A Tragedy in the Mountains

A TRAGEDY IN THE MOUNTAINS

The story of Nancy Kerley

By Larry Porter

Copy right 2013 Larry Porter

Smashwords Edition

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Based on the true story of Nancy Kerley, sent to prison in Raleigh, NC in 1914, for the murder of her granddaughter, Roberta Putnam, in Haywood County, NC.

CAST

Nancy Kerley - 55 years old, frail looking at ninety-five pounds, but a tough old bird, used to working hard all her life. Wears a plain dress and clodhopper type shoes.

Will Putnam - late teens, early twenties, Nancy’s son-in-law. Wears bib overalls with longjohns underneath and boots.

Lizzy Putnam – Nancy’s daughter, early twenties, small girl, seven months pregnant, mother of two. Her dress fits tight. It is a very plain everyday dress. They can’t afford to get anything for her pregnancy.

Sheriff Jack Carver - a robust man, wears a flannel shirt and jeans WITH suspenders. He does not have a pistol strapped to his side (no stereotypes). In the first scene he is 75 years old with a cane and is hunched over. He always wears a straw fedora.

Reverand Fincher – tall, lanky, long hair, wears black suit. He’s bald except for two tufts of hair, one on each side of his head.

Lawyer Black - Seen only from behind in dim light. He can be played by another male character.

Laura Lee Fincher – early twenties, plain cotton dress. Can be played by Nancy.

Chorus - used over a PA system, chants the thoughts of the community population. This chorus can be recorded by the cast to be played later, throughout the play.

Act I

Takes place in a rough hewn log cabin containing bare bones furnishings: a table and a couple chairs, a counter with a pan for washing dishes, a fireplace with a kettle hanging in it for boiling water and such. There are no kitchen cabinets, just a couple shelves with all the kitchen tools that exist, plates, cups, a few pots and pans. A double burner potbelly stove serves for cooking meals. A curtain hangs to indicate the bedroom.

Scene 3 – in the woods with a big rock to