Hatcher Hughes %u2013 Hell Bent Fer Heaven Selection
DAVID
No, Meg. But I hain%u2019t lost my belief in the Lord on Rufe%u2019s account. Fact is, I ain%u2019t so shore but what I believe in Him more %u2018n ever.
ANDY
Holy Moses! He%u2019s gone hell-bent fer glory, too!
MATT
[moves toward the door]
Well, he ain%u2019t a-goin%u2019 to stop us by shoutin%u2019, %u201CLord!%u201D
ANDY
Yeh, the Lord had His chance to punish Rufe an%u2019 didn%u2019t do it!
DAVID
That%u2019s just the p%u2019int. [Andy starts to break in the door. David seizes his arm, and holds Matt back also] He didn%u2019t punish him. But He may do it yit if you give Him a chance. [Quickly, as they show signs of impatience] An%u2019 arter what%u2019s happened here to-night we%u2019d orter be willin%u2019 to foller the Lord uphill back%u2019ards %u2018ith our eyes shet!
ANDY
Arter what%u2019s happened here to-night!
DAVID
Edzackly! Take it right straight through from beginnin%u2019 to end an%u2019 the Lord%u2019s been on our side every pop %u2013 even to blowin%u2019 up that dadburned dam that had never orter been put in!
MATT
That%u2019s so! I hadn%u2019t thought o%u2019 that!
ANDY
Aw! I%u2019ve seen all I want o%u2019 that love-your-enemy truck to-night! I%u2019m a-goin%u2019 through that door!
SID
[Who has gone to the door to look at the river, comes toward Andy]
Well don%u2019t be so brash about it, Andy. I expect Gran%u2019pap%u2019s right %u2013
ANDY
Well, I%u2019ll be ----! Have you gone crazy, too?
SID
No, but I believe in givin%u2019 everbody a chance %u2013 includin%u2019 the Lord. This is a job I expect He understand better %u2018n we do. An%u2019 we%u2019re all in His hands jist now. You see the river ain%u2019t through risin%u2019 yet. It%u2019ll be over the top %u2018o this house afore mornin%u2019 unless a merricle happens.
[They are all sobered by this and turn toward Sid anxiously]
DAVID
What makes you think that?
SID
While I %u2018us down thar under the dam a-telephonin%u2019, a message come through that all the dams between here an%u2019 Asheville had busted an%u2019 the river %u2018us a-sweepin%u2019 everything afore it. It %u2018us twenty-five feet above highwater at Eagle Bluff. An%u2019 they said if this new dam didn%u2019t hold it%u2019d be lots wuss down here afore mornin%u2019
DAVID
Then we%u2019re all a-goin%u2019 to have to swim fer our lives!
MEG
Has the water s%u2019rrounded the house?
MATT
Yeh. It%u2019s six feet deep twixt here an%u2019 the nearest hill!
MEG
Then they ain%u2019t nothin%u2019 left fer me an%u2019 Jude to do but pray, fer we cain%u2019t swim!
SID
[Smiles and pats her on the back]
Cheer up, Mam! Things ain%u2019t as bad as that yit. As I %u2018us a-comin%u2019 down the river in that turmoil o%u2019 water I hooked on to a lookse boat and fetched it ashore with me. It%u2019s tied out thar now. An%u2019 we%u2019d better not lose much time a-gittin%u2019 in it, fer that dam%u2019ll bust up in sections. An%u2019 they%u2019s liable to be another wave like the first un.
MEG
Is they room in the boat to take anything with us, Sid?
SID
No, nothin%u2019 but ourselves
DAVID
[Takes his rifle from the rack]
Well, I%u2019m a-goin to take this ole gun if I have to swim!
[Meg begins snatching a few small things from the table and mantel. Matt takes the shotgun]
SID
[Goes toward the door]
Come on, Andy, I want you to handle a oar.
RUFE
[Shouts from the cellar]
You ain%u2019t a-goin to leave me here to drownd? I cain%u2019t swim, neither!
ANDY
What makes you think you%u2019re a-goin%u2019 to drownd? Keep right on trustin%u2019 Him up yonder! He%u2019ll save you if you%u2019ve done as much fer Him as you say you have!
[He goes out at the front with Sid. Rufe is heard praying as Meg, Jude, Matt, and David finish gathering up their things and follow Sid and Andy.]
RUFE
O God, save me! You can save me if You will! I dunno how, but I know You can! I%u2019ve got faith in You! I have never doubted You, an%u2019 I ain%u2019t a-goin%u2019 to doubt You now jist because I%u2019m in a tight place! But everybody ain%u2019t like me, God! They%u2019s lots o%u2019 folks that has to have proof! An%u2019 if You save the others an%u2019 don%u2019t save me, like the fool, they%u2019re a-goin%u2019 to say in their hears they ain%u2019t no God! [There is a moment%u2019s silence. He opens the cellar door and peeps out cautiously. Seeing that the room is empty, he rushes to the front door and looks out, then shrinks back, terrified at what he sees.] They%u2019re right! [His voice drops to a hoarse whisper.] They ain%u2019t no God!
[A malignant expression sweeps over his face] If they is He hain%u2019t got no use fer folks like me! He%u2019s fer them that%u2019s on top! That%u2019s what He is! [He suddenly rises to his toes, as if impelled by some power outside himself, and hurls defiance towards the heavens.] Damn you, God! [He gradually collapses, muttering brokenly in a fit of terror.] Now I%u2019ve done it! I%u2019ve committed the unpardonable sin! [Then he screams hysterically as the curtain falls.] Help! Help! Come here, everybody, come here!
The End
