by John Murry
TIME: Evening, December 2, 1777.
SETTING: Main room in Rebecca Lister’s home in Philadelphia. Stone fireplace is down left. Window is up center; storage chest with cover stands under it. Table with lamps, chairs, and other pieces of plain furniture complete the furnishings. Exit up left leads to kitchen. Exit to street is right.
AT RISE: REBECCA LISTER enters left. She rushes to window, looks out, then opens storage chest and removes sewing basket and man’s overcoat. She carries these to table center and sits. She removes slip of paper from apron pocket, takes cloth-covered button from basket, removes cloth, places paper in button framework, recovers button with material, and sews. ELLA, carrying bundle of clothing, enters left, walks to table, deposits clothing.
REBECCA (Startled): Goodness, Ella, you frightened me.
ELLA: Sorry, Mistress Rebecca.
(Pointing) Do you want to send all these clothes to your family?
REBECCA: Yes, it is dreadfully cold in the camp where they are stationed.
ELLA (Angrily): ’Tis a disgrace, the way families have been separated in this war. (Warmly) I remember how I would entertain the children when I put on the master’s jacket. (Displays brightly colored jacket) Are you sending another message to General Washington?
REBECCA (Nodding): A most important message for Charles to deliver to Whitemarsh. Widow Nash told me that the British will attack there on the sixth of December—and that’s only four days away.
ELLA: Poor Widow Nash, having those British soldiers billeted in her house. And that General Howe is a pompous turkey!
REBECCA: Widow Nash has been so helpful to the continental cause. (Sighs) Of course, no one suspects that I have a son in Washington’s army. The British think my entire family has been sent away.
ELLA: You’re a courageous woman, mistress.
REBECCA: It’s a small thing for me to do, considering the sacrifices our soldiers are making. (After a pause) Charles should be here soon. (Worriedly) It is not a long journey, but the enemy patrol on the East Road from Philadelphia makes it very dangerous.
ELLA (Gesturing to REBECCA’s sewing): That’s a clever idea of yours, sewing messages to Whitemarsh in those buttons. But why can’t Charles deliver the messages personally?
REBECCA: If anything happens to Charles, someone else will deliver the coat to Whitemarsh. There are loyal patriots on the Whitemarsh route who are aware of the messages. Yes, they will risk their lives for the welfare of our troops. (ELLA walks upstage, looks out window, and calls.)
ELLA (Gesturing): Mistress Lister, come quickly! (REBECCA runs to window.)
REBECCA: What’s wrong?
ELLA: There’s a light in Widow Nash’s house.
REBECCA: The upper chamber—why, those are General Howe’s quarters.
ELLA: Why should he be up at this hour?
REBECCA: His men must be on patrol. (Women return to table.) We must clear these things away in case they come here. (She drapes coat over chair, gathers basket and sewing materials, puts them in chest, closes chest. Pounding is heard on door, right. ELLA opens door. CAPTAIN BARRINGTON enters.) Why, Captain Barrington! What brings you here at this hour?
BARRINGTON: I saw the light and thought someone might need help.
REBECCA: Ella and I are well. Now that I am separated from my family, I always welcome guests.
BARRINGTON: Yes, I know your family is gone (Sighing), but such is the business of war.
ELLA (Bitterly): And worse to come, I’ll be bound! (She gathers bundle of clothing, exits left.)
BARRINGTON: She does not favor the British.
REBECCA: Her young son was killed at Germantown two months ago.
BARRINGTON: My brother, a corporal, was killed there, too.
REBECCA: How terrible!
BARRINGTON: I received word yesterday. (He paces right, turns.) We are thousands of miles from home, in a strange country, without family. (After a pause) Has your entire family been billeted?
REBECCA (Nervously): Yes—yes.
BARRINGTON: I heard that you have a grown son, a young man of fighting age. (REBECCA grips the table.)
REBECCA: I—I don’t have a son of fighting age.
BARRINGTON: I see. . . .but now to the purpose of my visit. General Howe plans to hold a meeting tonight with the aides.
REBECCA: How does that affect me?
BARRINGTON: As you know, the General and his aides have been billeted at Widow Nash’s home these past few weeks, and I might add that she has not been sympathetic to our cause. We have reason to believe that she is passing information along to our enemies.
REBECCA: That’s ridiculous! How could that be?
BARRINGTON: General Howe thinks you are a noble woman, one who refused to take part in this war.
REBECCA: My conviction is my own affair.
BARRINGTON: In any case, you have won his confidence, and he wishes to use your house for a meeting tonight.
REBECCA (Shocked): But that’s impossible! I—I can’t leave my house. (She glances nervously at overcoat on chair.)
BARRINGTON: Sorry, ma’am, but my orders are to have this house vacated immediately.
REBECCA: Ella and I have no place to go. How can you do such a thing to us?
BARRINGTON (Smiling): Do you really expect me to dispute the general’s orders? (Stiffly) It is my duty to see that you leave these premises.
REBECCA (Sighing): Very well, the General and his aides may hold the meeting, but I pray that Ella and I be given permission to remain. We can prepare a midnight meal and attend to the comfort of the entire staff.
BARRINGTON: I will suggest it to General Howe.
REBECCA: Oh, thank you!
The Whitemarsh Affair, by John Murray © This play is reprinted from Plays, The Drama Magazine for Young People with the permission of the publisher Plays/Sterling Partners Inc. 897 Washington Street #600160, Newton, MA 02460
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
What is the most likely reason that Rebecca begs to be allowed to stay during General Howe’s meeting?
(1 point)
Responses
She wants to learn more of the British army’s plans.
She wants to learn more of the British army’s plans.
She wants to help the British by making them comfortable.
She wants to help the British by making them comfortable.
She wants to demonstrate her loyalty to the British.
She wants to demonstrate her loyalty to the British.
She wants to influence General Howe not to attack.
She wants to influence General Howe not to attack.
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1 answer
The most likely reason that Rebecca begs to be allowed to stay during General Howe’s meeting is:
She wants to learn more of the British army’s plans.
This choice aligns with her concern about the British attack and her interest in gathering information that could benefit her son's position in the Continental Army.
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