Unit 6 Pre Assessment

Swamp Sounds

Act I

Scene 3

Later that night. The shack is dark, except for a pale beam of moonlight coming through the window. JOANNE is sitting at the table, her head down on her folded arms. PAOLO is standing next to the window, still as a stone, looking out into the darkness. Suddenly a moan rises from the swamp outside.

JOANNE: It’s still there.

PAOLO: Yes

JOANNE: It’s taking a long time to die.

PAOLO: If it is dying.

JOANNE: {Looking up at him} You killed it. I know you did.

PAOLO: I SHOT IT. There’s a difference.

JOANNE: It was … It was so… {she shivers and puts her head sown again.}

PAOLO: I KNOW.

{The moans become louder. JOANNE jumps up from the table.}

JOANNE: I can’t stand it! I can’t! I should never have left home. All that fighting and arguing. I thought it was so terrible, but now! Now I’d give anything to be back in the kitchen at home, with my mother yelling at me. If only it could be yesterday.

{JOANNE falls back into the chair and begins to sob. Behind her, PAOLO fades into the darkness and disappears. She doesn’t realize it, but she is now completely alone.}

Why can’t it be yesterday? Oh, Paolo, what’s going to happen to us? Are we going to die here together, devoured by whatever that is out there in the swamp? Paolo? Paolo?

	First name Last name