1 

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SHUNNED 
 
by 
 
Larry​ ​Parr 
3722​ ​Glen​ ​Oaks​ ​Manor​ ​Drive 
Sarasota,​ ​Florida​ ​ ​34232 
(941)​ ​366-3332 
FAX:​ ​(941)​ ​365-4679  
 
Copyright,​ ​Larry​ ​Parr,​ ​2012 
 
Southern​ ​Appalachian​ ​Repertory​ ​Theater’s​ ​ScriptFest​ ​Winner 
Utah​ ​Shakespeare​ ​Festival 
New​ ​American​ ​Playwrights​ ​Project 
Julie​ ​Harris​ ​Playwright​ ​Award​ ​Finalist 
 
December​ ​18,​ ​2014 
 
 
 2 
THE​ ​CAST 
 
LEVI​ ​YODER,​ ​an​ ​Amish​ ​man,​ ​nineteen,​ ​clean-shaven,​ ​indicating​ ​he​ ​is 
single. 
 
AARON​ ​YODER,​ ​his​ ​papa,​ ​fortyish​ ​but​ ​aged​ ​by​ ​decades​ ​of​ ​hard​ ​work​ ​in​ ​the 
sun.​ ​ ​He​ ​wears​ ​a​ ​beard​ ​but​ ​no​ ​mustache,​ ​indicating​ ​he​ ​is​ ​a​ ​married​ ​Amish 
man.​ ​ ​Very​ ​religious​ ​but​ ​surprisingly​ ​bawdy.​ ​ ​He​ ​has​ ​all​ ​the​ ​power​ ​in​ ​his 
family,​ ​so​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​need​ ​for​ ​him​ ​to​ ​be​ ​loud​ ​or​ ​abusive.​ ​ ​He​ ​is​ ​leading​ ​his 
family​ ​the​ ​best​ ​way​ ​he​ ​knows​ ​how,​ ​which​ ​sometimes​ ​breaks​ ​his​ ​heart.   
 
MARY​ ​YODER,​ ​Levi’s​ ​younger​ ​sister,​ ​eighteen. 
 
KATHERINE​ ​YODER,​ ​Levi’s​ ​mother,​ ​fortyish. 
 
MARK​ ​CUMMINGS,​ ​an​ ​“Englisher,”​ ​or​ ​non-Amish​ ​townsperson.   
 
GARY​ ​SMITH,​ ​twenty,​ ​neighbor​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Yoders.   
 
SARAH​ ​MILLER,​ ​fifty​ ​to​ ​sixties,​ ​an​ ​Amish​ ​neighbor​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Yoders.​ ​ ​Doubles 
as​ ​FEMALE​ ​CUSTOMER. 
 
The​ ​Amish,​ ​a​ ​Christian​ ​denomination,​ ​traditionally​ ​farmers,​ ​consider 
buttons​ ​too​ ​worldly,​ ​so​ ​they​ ​use​ ​hooks​ ​and​ ​eyes.​ ​ ​Their​ ​clothes​ ​are 
hand-made,​ ​usually​ ​black​ ​or​ ​dark​ ​blue.​ ​ ​Men​ ​wear​ ​hats​ ​outside.​ ​ ​Married 
women​ ​and​ ​widows’​ ​heads​ ​are​ ​covered​ ​with​ ​black​ ​bonnets.​ ​ ​Single​ ​women 
wear​ ​white​ ​caps​ ​with​ ​tie​ ​strings.​ ​ ​Women​ ​often​ ​wear​ ​plain​ ​aprons.​ ​ ​Men 
wear​ ​distinctive​ ​“bowl”​ ​haircuts​ ​and​ ​suspenders. 
 
They​ ​strive​ ​for​ ​humility​ ​before​ ​God,​ ​so​ ​their​ ​arms​ ​and​ ​legs​ ​are​ ​never 
exposed.​ ​ ​Unmarried​ ​men​ ​are​ ​clean-shaven.​ ​ ​Married​ ​men​ ​wear​ ​a​ ​beard​ ​but 
no​ ​mustache.​ ​ ​Women​ ​do​ ​not​ ​wear​ ​makeup.​ ​ ​Their​ ​origins​ ​are 
Swiss-German.​ ​ ​They​ ​speak​ ​German​ ​in​ ​their​ ​homes,​ ​but​ ​they​ ​speak 
English​ ​when​ ​dealing​ ​with​ ​the​ ​“Englishers,”​ ​or​ ​non-Amish​ ​people. 
 
It​ ​is​ ​very​ ​much​ ​a​ ​patriarchal​ ​society. 
 
 3 
THE​ ​SET 
 
The​ ​Yoder​ ​farm.​ ​ ​Stage​ ​Right,​ ​the​ ​Yoder​ ​Kitchen.​ ​ ​There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​electricity 
on​ ​an​ ​Amish​ ​farm.​ ​ ​The​ ​house​ ​is​ ​lit​ ​by​ ​kerosene​ ​lamps.​ ​ ​There​ ​is​ ​a​ ​plain 
table​ ​in​ ​the​ ​kitchen​ ​and​ ​chairs,​ ​where​ ​the​ ​family​ ​eats.​ ​ ​There​ ​is​ ​a​ ​hand 
pump​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sink,​ ​for​ ​pumping​ ​water.​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​where​ ​the​ ​family​ ​washes 
when​ ​they​ ​enter​ ​the​ ​house,​ ​since​ ​there​ ​are​ ​no​ ​inside​ ​bathrooms.​ ​ ​The 
furnishings​ ​are​ ​plain​ ​and​ ​functional.​ ​ ​No​ ​pictures​ ​adorn​ ​the​ ​walls.​ ​ ​There 
are​ ​no​ ​curtains.​ ​ ​The​ ​kitchen​ ​is​ ​scrubbed​ ​clean.​ ​ ​A​ ​door​ ​enters​ ​into​ ​the 
rest​ ​of​ ​the​ ​house,​ ​unseen,​ ​and​ ​another​ ​door​ ​enters​ ​the​ ​pantry​. 
 
A​ ​door​ ​opens​ ​from​ ​the​ ​kitchen​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​front​ ​porch,​ ​Center​ ​Stage,​ ​with​ ​a 
porch​ ​swing​ ​and​ ​a​ ​plain​ ​chair.​ ​ ​Porch​ ​stairs​ ​lead​ ​down​ ​into​ ​the​ ​front​ ​yard. 
In​ ​the​ ​yard​ ​is​ ​a​ ​manual​ ​alarm​ ​bell​ ​on​ ​a​ ​post,​ ​that​ ​rings​ ​by​ ​yanking​ ​a​ ​cord. 
It​ ​is​ ​used​ ​only​ ​for​ ​emergencies.​ ​ ​Beyond​ ​the​ ​front​ ​yard,​ ​far​ ​downstage,​ ​a 
road​ ​passes​ ​the​ ​house. 
 
Stage​ ​Left​ ​is​ ​a​ ​produce​ ​stand​ ​where​ ​the​ ​Yoders​ ​sell​ ​farm​ ​goods​ ​to​ ​the 
townspeople.​ ​ ​It​ ​has​ ​eggs,​ ​apples,​ ​vegetables,​ ​pumpkins,​ ​corn,​ ​and​ ​fruit. 
There​ ​are​ ​flower​ ​pots​ ​and​ ​old​ ​barn​ ​boards​ ​with​ ​Amish​ ​hex​ ​signs​ ​painted​ ​on 
them​ ​for​ ​sale. 
 
Stage​ ​Right​ ​is​ ​a​ ​sunken​ ​area​ ​in​ ​the​ ​garden. 
 
This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​working​ ​farm,​ ​so​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​play​ ​there​ ​are​ ​background 
sounds​ ​of​ ​birds,​ ​cows,​ ​horses,​ ​chickens​ ​–​ ​all​ ​the​ ​sounds​ ​of​ ​a​ ​farm​ ​being 
worked​ ​by​ ​hand​ ​and​ ​animals.​ ​ ​No​ ​modern​ ​equipment​ ​is​ ​used​ ​for​ ​farming 
Amish​ ​farms. 
 
THE​ ​TIME 
 
ACT​ ​I 
An​ ​autumn​ ​day​ ​in​ ​Northern​ ​Indiana,​ ​near​ ​Shipshewana,​ ​the​ ​present. 
 
ACT​ ​II 
Scene​ ​I:​ ​ ​Two​ ​weeks​ ​later. 
 
Scene​ ​II:​ ​ ​The​ ​next​ ​morning. 
   
 4 
 
GLOSSARY 
 
Ah-mos​ ​–​ ​A​ ​derogatory​ ​term​ ​for​ ​Amish. 
 
Canoodle​ ​–​ ​Makin’​ ​whoopie. 
 
Clops​ ​--​ ​A​ ​derogatory​ ​term​ ​for​ ​Amish,​ ​probably​ ​from​ ​the​ ​sound​ ​of​ ​horses’ 
hooves. 
 
Doppleheaded​ ​–​ ​Dumb. 
 
The​ ​English​ ​–​ ​People​ ​who​ ​are​ ​not​ ​Amish. 
 
Frahootled​ ​–​ ​Crazy 
 
Gelasssenheit​ ​–​ ​The​ ​state​ ​of​ ​humility​ ​that​ ​all​ ​Amish​ ​people​ ​seek,​ ​a​ ​feeling​ ​of 
peace,​ ​created​ ​by​ ​totally​ ​giving​ ​over​ ​of​ ​one’s​ ​self​ ​and​ ​future​ ​to​ ​God,​ ​a​ ​feeling 
of​ ​acceptance,​ ​that​ ​everything​ ​is​ ​God’s​ ​plan. 
 
Mutter​ ​–​ ​Mother. 
 
Rumspringa​ ​–​ ​The​ ​period​ ​Amish​ ​teenagers​ ​leave​ ​home,​ ​to​ ​explore​ ​the​ ​world, 
to​ ​try​ ​things​ ​they​ ​have​ ​never​ ​tried,​ ​to​ ​determine​ ​whether​ ​or​ ​not​ ​they​ ​want 
to​ ​return​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​world​ ​and​ ​be​ ​baptized​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​order.​ ​ ​Literal 
translation:​ ​ ​“Running​ ​around.” 
 
Smearcase​ ​–​ ​A​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​cottage​ ​cheese​ ​or​ ​clabbered​ ​milk. 
 
Stupsen​ ​–​ ​Slang​ ​for​ ​intercourse. 
 
   
 5 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ACT​ ​I 
   
 6 
(Lights​ ​up​ ​on​ ​Levi​ ​Yoder,​ ​hauling​ ​in​ ​a​ ​basket​ ​of​ ​apples 
to​ ​the​ ​produce​ ​stand.​ ​ ​His​ ​sister,​ ​Mary​ ​Yoder,​ ​is 
arranging​ ​fruit.​ ​ ​Levi​ ​flips​ ​up​ ​the​ ​OPEN​ ​sign.) 
 
LEVI 
Mary,​ ​the​ ​apples​ ​are​ ​beautiful​ ​from​ ​the​ ​orchard​ ​this​ ​morning. 
 
MARY 
Fer​ ​lunch​ ​I’ll​ ​take​ ​one​ ​later.​ ​ ​With​ ​some​ ​smearcase​ ​it’d​ ​be​ ​good.​ ​ ​And 
some​ ​of​ ​Sarah​ ​Miller’s​ ​bread. 
 
(Levi​ ​looks​ ​around​ ​furtively,​ ​making​ ​sure​ ​no​ ​one​ ​will 
hear.) 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​thank​ ​God​ ​every​ ​day​ ​that​ ​Sarah​ ​Miller​ ​is​ ​our​ ​neighbor.​ ​ ​Mutter’s​ ​bread 
might​ ​kill​ ​us​ ​should​ ​we​ ​try​ ​to​ ​eat​ ​it.​ ​ ​Or​ ​sicken​ ​us​ ​so​ ​bad​ ​we’d​ ​wish​ ​to​ ​be 
dead. 
 
MARY 
Do​ ​you​ ​think​ ​an​ ​Amishwoman​ ​could​ ​be​ ​shunned​ ​fer​ ​her​ ​cookin’? 
 
LEVI 
Like​ ​Mutter? 
 
MARY 
She​ ​made​ ​noodles.​ ​ ​Not​ ​like​ ​any​ ​Amish​ ​noodles​ ​they​ ​look​ ​like​ ​to​ ​me. 
 
LEVI 
If​ ​she​ ​could​ ​be​ ​shunned​ ​fer​ ​her​ ​noodles,​ ​she​ ​should​ ​be​ ​excommunicated 
fer​ ​her​ ​pot​ ​roast. 
 
(They​ ​try​ ​to​ ​stifle​ ​their​ ​laughter.) 
 
LEVI 
Mary!​ ​ ​I​ ​got​ ​a​ ​secret. 
 
MARY 
One​ ​you​ ​could​ ​be​ ​shunned​ ​fer? 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​don’t​ ​know.​ ​ ​Maybe​ ​I​ ​shouldn’t​ ​tell​ ​you. 
 
MARY 
I​ ​got​ ​a​ ​secret,​ ​too!​ ​ ​I’ll​ ​tell​ ​mine​ ​if​ ​you’ll​ ​tell.​ ​ ​Only​ ​don’t​ ​tell​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​Yah? 
 7 
 
(Levi​ ​nods.) 
 
I​ ​rode​ ​Jake​ ​down​ ​through​ ​the​ ​meadow​ ​this​ ​morning​ ​before​ ​nary​ ​one​ ​was 
up​ ​in​ ​the​ ​early​ ​sunrise.   
 
LEVI 
You​ ​sat​ ​up​ ​on​ ​him.​ ​ ​Like​ ​the​ ​English​ ​ride​ ​the​ ​horses? 
 
MARY 
He​ ​drank​ ​from​ ​the​ ​brook,​ ​while​ ​I​ ​sat​ ​up​ ​there​ ​so​ ​high​ ​like​ ​the​ ​Queen​ ​of 
England.​ ​ ​And​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​was​ ​just​ ​comin’​ ​up,​ ​breaking​ ​through​ ​the​ ​leaves, 
all​ ​dappled​ ​on​ ​my​ ​arms. 
 
LEVI 
Horses​ ​are​ ​fer​ ​workin’,​ ​not​ ​fer​ ​pleasurin’.   
 
MARY 
God​ ​makes​ ​horses,​ ​too.​ ​ ​What​ ​could​ ​be​ ​the​ ​sin​ ​of​ ​it?   
 
LEVI 
Papa’ll​ ​be​ ​takin’​ ​you​ ​over​ ​to​ ​the​ ​sinkhole​ ​in​ ​the​ ​garden,​ ​showin’​ ​you​ ​old 
Moses​ ​Beachy’s​ ​grave.​ ​ ​Tellin’​ ​you​ ​he​ ​died​ ​from​ ​ridin’​ ​a​ ​horse. 
 
(Mary​ ​laughs.) 
 
MARY 
When​ ​I​ ​was​ ​twelve​ ​years​ ​old,​ ​he​ ​caught​ ​me​ ​swipin’​ ​an​ ​apple​ ​from​ ​the 
Millers’​ ​orchard.​ ​ ​And​ ​over​ ​to​ ​that​ ​sunken​ ​old​ ​hole​ ​he​ ​took​ ​me​ ​and​ ​told 
me,​ ​“Moses​ ​Beachy​ ​is​ ​buried​ ​here,​ ​and​ ​he​ ​died​ ​by​ ​gettin’​ ​shot​ ​fer​ ​stealin’ 
apples​ ​from​ ​his​ ​neighbor.​ ​ ​So​ ​with​ ​decent​ ​Amish​ ​folk​ ​he​ ​can’t​ ​be​ ​buried.” 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​Becky​ ​Bontrager’s​ ​papa​ ​brought​ ​her​ ​over​ ​here​ ​when​ ​she​ ​said,​ ​“Gosh 
Darn”​ ​once​ ​and​ ​told​ ​her​ ​Moses​ ​Beachy​ ​had​ ​to​ ​be​ ​buried​ ​alone,​ ​because 
God​ ​struck​ ​him​ ​dead​ ​with​ ​lightning​ ​when​ ​he​ ​swore. 
 
MARY 
They​ ​think​ ​we’re​ ​such​ ​doppleheads​ ​not​ ​to​ ​know​ ​they’re​ ​just​ ​usin’​ ​that​ ​old 
sinkhole​ ​to​ ​scare​ ​us​ ​into​ ​behavin’.​ ​ ​But​ ​never​ ​once​ ​Papa​ ​probably​ ​told 
you​ ​about​ ​Moses​ ​Beachy,​ ​did​ ​he?​ ​ ​Because​ ​you’re​ ​always​ ​so​ ​perfect​ ​yet. 
 
LEVI 
I’m​ ​not​ ​so​ ​perfect. 
 
 8 
MARY 
Everything​ ​he​ ​says,​ ​you​ ​say,​ ​“Yes,​ ​Sir.”​ ​ ​You​ ​got​ ​no​ ​backbone​ ​when 
Papa’s​ ​around.  
 
LEVI 
We’re​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​do​ ​what​ ​Papa​ ​bids.   
 
MARY 
Maybe​ ​on​ ​your​ ​own​ ​feet​ ​if​ ​you​ ​took​ ​a​ ​stand​ ​once,​ ​God’s​ ​path​ ​would​ ​be 
revealed​ ​directly​ ​to​ ​you.​ ​ ​Instead​ ​of​ ​havin’​ ​to​ ​go​ ​through​ ​Papa. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​don’t​ ​see​ ​you​ ​standin’​ ​up​ ​to​ ​Papa. 
 
MARY 
Amishwomen​ ​do​ ​what​ ​their​ ​men​ ​say.​ ​ ​But​ ​you’re​ ​almost​ ​a​ ​grown​ ​man. 
 
LEVI 
Some​ ​things​ ​Papa​ ​doesn’t​ ​know​ ​about​ ​I​ ​do.​ ​ ​Only​ ​don’t​ ​say​ ​nothin’.​ ​ ​I’ll 
maybe​ ​tell​ ​Papa​ ​but​ ​not​ ​yet. 
 
MARY 
Well​ ​what​ ​is​ ​it​ ​that​ ​you​ ​done? 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​saw​ ​a​ ​play. 
 
MARY 
On​ ​a​ ​stage?​ ​ ​That​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​play?   
 
No,​ ​you​ ​didn’t.​ ​ ​Where​ ​would​ ​you​ ​see​ ​such​ ​a​ ​thing? 
 
LEVI 
Over​ ​to​ ​Wingspread.​ ​ ​That​ ​summer​ ​theater​ ​up​ ​by​ ​Sturgis.​ ​ ​Honey​ ​and 
apples​ ​and​ ​eggs​ ​fer​ ​to​ ​feed​ ​the​ ​actors​ ​I​ ​delivered​ ​‘em.​ ​ ​They​ ​were 
practicin’,​ ​so​ ​up​ ​in​ ​the​ ​hayloft​ ​I​ ​crawled​ ​and​ ​watched​ ​‘em.   
 
MARY 
When? 
 
LEVI 
A​ ​couple​ ​of​ ​weeks​ ​ago 
 
MARY 
Was​ ​it​ ​like​ ​Papa​ ​at​ ​Christmastime?​ ​ ​In​ ​the​ ​barn​ ​tellin’​ ​about​ ​Jesus? 
 9 
 
LEVI 
Only​ ​with​ ​real​ ​actors.​ ​ ​With​ ​electric​ ​lights.​ ​ ​And​ ​the​ ​most-beautiful​ ​story 
the​ ​words​ ​coming​ ​out​ ​of​ ​their​ ​mouths​ ​told. 
 
MARY 
What​ ​was​ ​it​ ​called,​ ​the​ ​play? 
 
LEVI 
OUR​ ​TOWN. 
 
MARY 
What​ ​was​ ​the​ ​story? 
 
LEVI 
About​ ​dead​ ​people.​ ​ ​And​ ​live​ ​people.​ ​ ​And​ ​living​ ​and​ ​the​ ​earth.​ ​ ​Oh, 
Mary,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​beautiful.   
 
“Oh,​ ​earth,​ ​you’re​ ​too​ ​wonderful​ ​for​ ​anybody​ ​to​ ​realize​ ​you.​ ​ ​Do​ ​any 
human​ ​beings​ ​ever​ ​realize​ ​life​ ​while​ ​they​ ​live​ ​it​ ​–​ ​every,​ ​every​ ​minute?” 
 
MARY 
Dead​ ​people?​ ​ ​And​ ​they​ ​talked,​ ​too? 
 
LEVI 
On​ ​chairs​ ​they​ ​sat​ ​and​ ​talked. 
 
MARY 
I​ ​wouldn’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​hear​ ​dead​ ​people​ ​talkin’.​ ​ ​I​ ​was​ ​scared​ ​enough​ ​already 
when​ ​they​ ​laid​ ​out​ ​Grandma​ ​on​ ​our​ ​kitchen​ ​table,​ ​all​ ​cold​ ​and​ ​blue.​ ​ ​And 
I​ ​had​ ​to​ ​get​ ​up​ ​the​ ​next​ ​morning​ ​and​ ​eat​ ​my​ ​scrambled​ ​eggs​ ​and​ ​fried 
mush​ ​at​ ​that​ ​very​ ​same​ ​table. 
 
LEVI 
Somebody’s​ ​got​ ​to​ ​write​ ​down​ ​those​ ​words​ ​the​ ​actors​ ​say.​ ​ ​Why​ ​couldn’t​ ​I 
do​ ​that? 
 
MARY 
Levi!​ ​ ​You’re​ ​an​ ​Amishman!​ ​ ​All​ ​you​ ​can​ ​do​ ​is​ ​farm​ ​and​ ​marry​ ​Becky 
Bontrager​ ​like​ ​Papa​ ​wants​ ​so​ ​our​ ​farms​ ​will​ ​one​ ​day​ ​be​ ​joined​ ​together. 
 
LEVI 
Becky​ ​Bontrager’s​ ​a​ ​cow.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​gonna​ ​marry​ ​Hannah​ ​Lambright. 
 
Her​ ​eyes​ ​so​ ​blue​ ​like​ ​cornflowers 
 10 
Her​ ​hair​ ​like​ ​summer​ ​wheat 
The​ ​smile​ ​that​ ​plays​ ​upon​ ​her​ ​lips 
Is​ ​cunning​ ​and​ ​so​ ​sweet. 
 
MARY 
Oh,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​You​ ​write​ ​so​ ​beautiful.​ ​ ​I​ ​should​ ​want​ ​one​ ​day​ ​Samuel​ ​Lapp​ ​to 
write​ ​me​ ​a​ ​poem​ ​like​ ​that. 
 
LEVI 
Samuel​ ​Lapp?​ ​ ​The​ ​Bishop’s​ ​son?​ ​ ​You​ ​set​ ​your​ ​sights​ ​mighty​ ​high,​ ​Miss 
Mary. 
 
MARY 
He​ ​asked​ ​me​ ​to​ ​come​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Autumn​ ​Frolic​ ​in​ ​two​ ​weeks.​ ​ ​ ​I​ ​think​ ​he 
fancies​ ​me. 
 
LEVI 
Wait​ ​till​ ​Papa​ ​hears​ ​how​ ​you’re​ ​chasin’​ ​after​ ​the​ ​Bishop’s​ ​son!​ ​ ​Shame! 
 
MARY 
And​ ​shame​ ​on​ ​you,​ ​too!​ ​ ​Wantin’​ ​to​ ​marry​ ​Hannah​ ​just​ ​because​ ​she’s 
pretty.​ ​ ​You​ ​be​ ​forgettin’​ ​your​ ​humility. 
 
LEVI 
Seein’​ ​OUR​ ​TOWN,​ ​away​ ​from​ ​the​ ​hayloft​ ​and​ ​the​ ​barn​ ​it​ ​took​ ​me. 
Hearing​ ​those​ ​words​ ​was​ ​like​ ​God​ ​speaking​ ​to​ ​me​ ​inside​ ​my​ ​heart.​ ​ ​I​ ​just 
got​ ​to​ ​see​ ​more​ ​plays. 
 
MARY 
Over​ ​to​ ​Wingspread? 
 
LEVI 
Maybe​ ​bigger​ ​places.​ ​ ​Maybe​ ​a​ ​bus​ ​into​ ​Chicago​ ​I​ ​could​ ​ride​ ​and​ ​see 
some​ ​plays.​ ​ ​In​ ​big​ ​theaters.​ ​ ​I​ ​stopped​ ​at​ ​the​ ​library​ ​and​ ​brought​ ​home​ ​a 
copy​ ​of​ ​OUR​ ​TOWN.​ ​ ​And​ ​some​ ​other​ ​plays. 
 
MARY 
You’re​ ​Amish.​ ​ ​You​ ​can’t​ ​ride​ ​the​ ​bus.​ ​ ​And​ ​go​ ​to​ ​Chicago.​ ​ ​And​ ​see​ ​more 
plays. 
 
LEVI 
Maybe​ ​now​ ​our​ ​autumn​ ​chores​ ​are​ ​almost​ ​done,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​won’t​ ​be​ ​so​ ​hard 
farmin’​ ​fer​ ​Papa​ ​alone,​ ​my​ ​rumspringa​ ​I​ ​could​ ​take.​ ​ ​Go​ ​into​ ​Chicago​ ​and 
see​ ​plays.​ ​ ​See​ ​how​ ​they​ ​work​ ​and​ ​maybe​ ​learn​ ​to​ ​write​ ​one. 
 
 11 
MARY 
You​ ​wait​ ​so​ ​long​ ​before​ ​you​ ​take​ ​a​ ​rumspringa,​ ​and​ ​you​ ​want​ ​now​ ​to​ ​go 
see​ ​plays? 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​thought​ ​I​ ​wouldn’t​ ​have​ ​a​ ​rumspringa​ ​at​ ​all.​ ​ ​Didn’t​ ​need​ ​one.​ ​ ​Till​ ​now 
this​ ​comes​ ​up. 
 
MARY 
You’re​ ​either​ ​frahootled​ ​or​ ​a​ ​genius.​ ​ ​I​ ​never​ ​could​ ​figure​ ​which​ ​about 
you. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​plow​ ​a​ ​furrow​ ​or​ ​milk​ ​a​ ​cow​ ​or​ ​pick​ ​some​ ​apples,​ ​but​ ​my​ ​mind​ ​is​ ​writin’ 
down​ ​people’s​ ​words​ ​or​ ​thinkin’​ ​of​ ​a​ ​story.​ ​ ​I​ ​can’t​ ​help​ ​it. 
 
MARY 
So​ ​famous​ ​you​ ​could​ ​be? 
 
LEVI 
Famous​ ​I​ ​wouldn’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be.​ ​ ​I​ ​just​ ​want​ ​to​ ​show​ ​the​ ​English​ ​what 
we’re​ ​really​ ​like. 
 
MARY 
What​ ​difference​ ​does​ ​it​ ​make​ ​what​ ​the​ ​English​ ​think?​ ​ ​It​ ​only​ ​matters 
what​ ​God​ ​thinks. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​wonder​ ​what​ ​God​ ​thinks​ ​about​ ​plays​ ​on​ ​the​ ​stage. 
 
(Gary​ ​Smith​ ​walks​ ​down​ ​the​ ​road​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Yoder 
home,​ ​wearing​ ​battered​ ​blue​ ​jeans​ ​and​ ​a​ ​T-shirt.​ ​ ​When 
he​ ​speaks​ ​to​ ​them,​ ​Levi​ ​and​ ​Mary​ ​look​ ​down​ ​instead​ ​of 
at​ ​him.) 
 
GARY 
Hi.​ ​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Hey,​ ​Mary. 
 
(They​ ​don’t​ ​respond.​ ​ ​They​ ​turn​ ​away​ ​and​ ​continue 
looking​ ​down.) 
 
GARY 
I​ ​thought​ ​maybe​ ​because​ ​we​ ​used​ ​to​ ​be​ ​friends,​ ​you’d​ ​still​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​me. 
Despite​ ​the​ ​shunning. 
 
 12 
(No​ ​response.) 
 
GARY 
Levi.​ ​ ​Look,​ ​honest.​ ​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​mean​ ​to​ ​kill​ ​that​ ​man.​ ​ ​Matthew​ ​Miller.​ ​ ​I 
didn’t​ ​kill​ ​him​ ​really.​ ​ ​He​ ​just​ ​fell​ ​down​ ​dead​ ​of​ ​a​ ​heart​ ​attack​ ​on​ ​the 
ground. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​you​ ​took…. 
 
(Mary​ ​holds​ ​out​ ​her​ ​hand,​ ​reminding​ ​Levi​ ​they​ ​can’t​ ​talk 
to​ ​Gary.) 
 
GARY 
I​ ​was​ ​just​ ​borrowing​ ​his​ ​money,​ ​honest.​ ​ ​I​ ​was​ ​gonna​ ​bring​ ​it​ ​back. 
Look,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Look.​ ​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​you​ ​in​ ​church​ ​the​ ​other​ ​day.​ ​ ​I​ ​peeked​ ​through 
the​ ​window,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​Bishop​ ​ran​ ​me​ ​off.​ ​ ​My​ ​own​ ​parents,​ ​they​ ​don’t​ ​talk 
to​ ​me.​ ​ ​I​ ​got​ ​no​ ​one. 
 
Levi,​ ​can’t​ ​you​ ​speak​ ​up​ ​fer​ ​me?​ ​ ​Tell​ ​‘em​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​mean​ ​it? 
 
LEVI 
Mary,​ ​if​ ​I​ ​could​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​Amos…. 
 
GARY 
Gary!​ ​ ​My​ ​name​ ​is​ ​Gary​ ​now. 
 
LEVI 
Mary,​ ​if​ ​I​ ​could​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​Gary​ ​right​ ​now,​ ​I’d​ ​tell​ ​him​ ​how​ ​sorry​ ​I​ ​am​ ​that 
he’s​ ​gone​ ​from​ ​the​ ​order.​ ​ ​But​ ​it’s​ ​the​ ​older​ ​men​ ​the​ ​decisions​ ​they​ ​make.   
 
GARY 
You​ ​could​ ​try,​ ​though.​ ​ ​Nothin’​ ​you​ ​do​ ​to​ ​help​ ​me! 
 
(Mary​ ​tries​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​Levi​ ​from​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​Gary,​ ​but​ ​Levi 
brushes​ ​her​ ​aside.) 
 
LEVI 
Doesn’t​ ​Gary​ ​remember​ ​what​ ​fun​ ​we​ ​had​ ​as​ ​kids?​ ​ ​Playin’​ ​in​ ​the​ ​woods. 
In​ ​our​ ​minds​ ​we​ ​could​ ​be​ ​anything​ ​we​ ​wanted.​ ​ ​A​ ​famous​ ​baseball 
player! 
 
GARY 
A​ ​movie​ ​actor! 
 
 13 
LEVI 
President​ ​of​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States. 
 
GARY 
Kids​ ​stuff.​ ​ ​President!​ ​ ​Some​ ​kinda​ ​dream​ ​fer​ ​two​ ​kids​ ​that​ ​aren’t​ ​even 
allowed​ ​to​ ​vote​ ​when​ ​they​ ​grow​ ​up.​ ​ ​Not​ ​allowed​ ​to​ ​do​ ​this​ ​or​ ​that. 
Rules,​ ​rules,​ ​rules…. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​now​ ​you’re​ ​free. 
 
GARY 
I​ ​wanna​ ​come​ ​back,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​That’s​ ​all​ ​I​ ​want.​ ​ ​Be​ ​with​ ​my​ ​mutter​ ​and​ ​papa 
again.​ ​ ​Have​ ​friends….​ ​ ​But​ ​won’t​ ​no​ ​one​ ​listen​ ​to​ ​me. 
 
LEVI 
You​ ​could​ ​be​ ​anywhere​ ​else​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world.​ ​ ​Be​ ​anything​ ​you​ ​want.​ ​ ​Like 
we​ ​dreamed​ ​of​ ​as​ ​kids.​ ​ ​Yet​ ​here​ ​you​ ​stay. 
 
GARY 
I…I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​where​ ​to​ ​go,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Ain’t​ ​nobody​ ​taught​ ​me​ ​how​ ​to​ ​live​ ​in 
the​ ​world.​ ​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​understand​ ​half​ ​the​ ​things​ ​goin’​ ​on​ ​around​ ​me. 
 
LEVI 
Crippled​ ​up​ ​by​ ​your​ ​own​ ​freedom. 
 
GARY 
I…I…. 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​by​ ​drugs​ ​and​ ​alcohol​ ​you​ ​brought​ ​home​ ​from​ ​rumspringa.​ ​ ​Just​ ​stop 
usin’​ ​that​ ​stuff. 
 
(This​ ​snaps​ ​Gary​ ​out​ ​of​ ​it.) 
 
GARY 
You​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​nothin’.​ ​ ​Talkin’​ ​‘bout​ ​kids’​ ​stuff,​ ​what​ ​we​ ​used​ ​to 
pretend.​ ​ ​You​ ​think​ ​you​ ​know​ ​all​ ​about​ ​everything,​ ​but​ ​you’re​ ​just​ ​a 
dumb​ ​clop.​ ​ ​Well,​ ​now​ ​I​ ​got​ ​television.​ ​ ​The​ ​best​ ​thing​ ​on​ ​earth.​ ​ ​And​ ​a 
toilet​ ​right​ ​inside​ ​the​ ​house.​ ​ ​Instead​ ​of​ ​takin’a​ ​ ​crap​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​rain. 
 
Dumb​ ​Ah-mos. 
 
(​As​ ​he​ ​exits,​ ​he​ ​knocks​ ​over​ ​a​ ​produce​ ​basket.) 
 
 14 
MARY 
He​ ​scares​ ​me.   
 
LEVI 
So​ ​frahootled.​ ​ ​One​ ​minute​ ​friendly.​ ​ ​The​ ​next​ ​minute​ ​hateful. 
 
MARY 
Oop,​ ​here​ ​comes​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​English.​ ​ ​Painted​ ​up​ ​like​ ​a​ ​circus​ ​clown. 
 
I’m​ ​goin’​ ​ta​ ​gather​ ​the​ ​eggs.​ ​ ​To​ ​spell​ ​you​ ​I’ll​ ​be​ ​back​ ​noontime,​ ​so​ ​you 
can​ ​go​ ​help​ ​Papa​ ​in​ ​the​ ​fields. 
 
(As​ ​Mary​ ​exits,​ ​a​ ​Female​ ​Customer​ ​enters,​ ​wearing 
shorts​ ​that​ ​are​ ​too​ ​short,​ ​a​ ​bright​ ​top,​ ​and​ ​her​ ​makeup 
is​ ​garish.​ ​ ​She​ ​looks​ ​over​ ​the​ ​produce.) 
 
CUSTOMER 
Oh,​ ​these​ ​apples​ ​smell​ ​so​ ​good!​ ​ ​What​ ​kind​ ​are​ ​they? 
 
LEVI 
McIntosh.​ ​ ​From​ ​our​ ​orchard. 
 
(She​ ​looks​ ​him​ ​over.) 
 
CUSTOMER 
Oh,​ ​aren’t​ ​you​ ​a​ ​doll?​ ​ ​Let​ ​me​ ​take​ ​your​ ​picture. 
 
(As​ ​she​ ​paws​ ​through​ ​her​ ​purse,​ ​she​ ​sets​ ​clutter​ ​on​ ​the 
counter,​ ​including​ ​a​ ​lipstick​ ​that​ ​she​ ​inadvertently 
knocks​ ​off.​ ​ ​She​ ​finally​ ​hauls​ ​out​ ​her​ ​camera.) 
 
LEVI 
Please.​ ​ ​The​ ​Bible​ ​tell​ ​us​ ​not​ ​to​ ​make​ ​any​ ​images​ ​of​ ​anything​ ​in​ ​Heaven 
or​ ​on​ ​Earth.... 
 
(Ignoring​ ​his​ ​protests,​ ​she​ ​snaps​ ​his​ ​photo.​ ​ ​Mark 
Cummings​ ​enters,​ ​picks​ ​up​ ​a​ ​basket,​ ​and​ ​begins​ ​going 
through​ ​the​ ​vegetables.​ ​ ​He​ ​chooses​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​produce, 
because​ ​he​ ​runs​ ​a​ ​bed​ ​and​ ​breakfast​ ​in​ ​Shipshewana.) 
 
CUSTOMER 
I’m​ ​gonna​ ​show​ ​this​ ​to​ ​my​ ​niece.​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​she’ll​ ​think​ ​you’re​ ​so​ ​cute.​ ​ ​Maybe 
I’ll​ ​bring​ ​her​ ​out​ ​here​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​you. 
 
LEVI 
 15 
An​ ​Amish​ ​girl​ ​I’m​ ​gonna​ ​marry. 
 
CUSTOMER 
I​ ​didn’t​ ​say​ ​nothin’​ ​about​ ​marrying​ ​her.​ ​ ​Just​ ​maybe​ ​you​ ​could​ ​give​ ​her​ ​a 
ride​ ​on​ ​one​ ​of​ ​your​ ​horses. 
 
LEVI 
Our​ ​horses​ ​are​ ​fer​ ​workin’​ ​the​ ​fields,​ ​not​ ​fer​ ​pleasurin’. 
 
CUSTOMER 
Listen,​ ​Honey,​ ​do​ ​you​ ​wear​ ​those​ ​hot​ ​clothes​ ​just​ ​for​ ​the​ ​tourists?​ ​ ​I 
mean,​ ​when​ ​you​ ​go​ ​home​ ​at​ ​night​ ​to​ ​watch​ ​television,​ ​don’t​ ​you​ ​just​ ​put 
on​ ​a​ ​T-shirt​ ​and​ ​shorts? 
 
LEVI 
No​ ​television​ ​we​ ​have. 
 
CUSTOMER 
No​ ​television!​ ​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​I​ ​couldn’t​ ​live​ ​without​ ​my​ ​soaps! 
 
(She​ ​finishes​ ​paying​ ​and​ ​exits,​ ​leaving​ ​her​ ​lipstick 
behind.) 
 
MARK 
Oh,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​She’s​ ​got​ ​some​ ​plans​ ​for​ ​you​ ​and​ ​her​ ​niece! 
 
LEVI 
Inside​ ​she​ ​makes​ ​me​ ​laugh​ ​but​ ​not​ ​to​ ​her​ ​face.   
 
MARK 
She’s​ ​a​ ​real​ ​beauty.​ ​ ​How’d​ ​you​ ​like​ ​to​ ​take​ ​her​ ​out​ ​into​ ​your​ ​haystack 
and​ ​kiss​ ​her​ ​gorgeous​ ​face? 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​didn’t​ ​think​ ​she​ ​was​ ​gorgeous​ ​at​ ​all! 
 
MARK 
No,​ ​see.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​sarcasm.​ ​ ​When​ ​I​ ​say​ ​one​ ​thing​ ​but​ ​mean​ ​the​ ​opposite. 
 
LEVI 
Just​ ​imagine​ ​if​ ​down​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Methodist​ ​Church​ ​I​ ​went​ ​some​ ​Sunday 
mornin’​ ​and​ ​pointed​ ​and​ ​whispered​ ​about​ ​the​ ​people​ ​goin’​ ​in.​ ​ ​And 
laughed​ ​at​ ​‘em​ ​and​ ​took​ ​their​ ​pictures.​ ​ ​They’d​ ​think​ ​I​ ​was​ ​frahootled. 
But​ ​the​ ​same​ ​thing​ ​they​ ​do​ ​to​ ​us​ ​every​ ​single​ ​day. 
 
 16 
MARK 
I​ ​bet​ ​you​ ​see​ ​everything​ ​out​ ​here. 
 
LEVI 
So​ ​many​ ​different​ ​kinds​ ​of​ ​people.​ ​ ​And​ ​different​ ​they​ ​all​ ​talk,​ ​too. 
Yesterday,​ ​these​ ​two​ ​boys​ ​about​ ​my​ ​age​ ​came​ ​by.​ ​ ​One​ ​of​ ​‘em​ ​said, 
“Dude,​ ​check​ ​out​ ​these​ ​like​ ​totally​ ​cool​ ​apples.​ ​ ​Smell,​ ​Dude.​ ​ ​They’re​ ​like 
so​ ​awesome,​ ​they​ ​give​ ​me​ ​a​ ​total​ ​woody.” 
 
Mark,​ ​what​ ​is​ ​a​ ​“total​ ​woody?” 
 
(Mark​ ​laughs.) 
 
MARK 
You​ ​certainly​ ​have​ ​an​ ​ear​ ​for​ ​dialogue! 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​what​ ​does​ ​she​ ​mean,​ ​“Soaps?” 
 
MARK 
Cheesy​ ​stories​ ​on​ ​television​ ​for​ ​lonely​ ​women​ ​to​ ​watch​ ​during​ ​the​ ​day 
who​ ​have​ ​nothin’​ ​better​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​their​ ​lives. 
 
LEVI 
You​ ​mean​ ​like​ ​plays? 
 
MARK 
Like​ ​plays​ ​only​ ​really​ ​bad. 
 
LEVI 
Do​ ​you​ ​like​ ​plays?​ ​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​OUR​ ​TOWN.​ ​ ​At​ ​Wingspread.   
 
“The​ ​dead​ ​don’t​ ​stay​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​us​ ​living​ ​people​ ​for​ ​very​ ​long.” 
 
MARK 
“Gradually,​ ​they​ ​let​ ​go​ ​of​ ​the​ ​earth​ ​and​ ​the​ ​ambitions​ ​they​ ​once​ ​had.” 
 
LEVI 
You​ ​know​ ​OUR​ ​TOWN!! 
 
MARK 
I​ ​wanted​ ​be​ ​an​ ​actor.​ ​ ​Once​ ​upon​ ​a​ ​time.   
 
LEVI 
Really!​ ​ ​On​ ​the​ ​stage?​ ​ ​Like​ ​the​ ​actors​ ​I​ ​saw? 
 17 
 
MARK 
I​ ​kept​ ​tryin’​ ​to​ ​get​ ​to​ ​New​ ​York​ ​to​ ​audition,​ ​but​ ​my​ ​Ma​ ​got​ ​sick.​ ​ ​So​ ​I​ ​took 
care​ ​of​ ​her​ ​for​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​years​ ​till​ ​she​ ​died.​ ​ ​And​ ​I​ ​found​ ​out​ ​I​ ​love​ ​it​ ​here, 
and​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​live​ ​anywhere​ ​else.​ ​So​ ​I​ ​turned​ ​her​ ​old​ ​house​ ​into​ ​a 
bed​ ​and​ ​breakfast. 
 
LEVI 
So​ ​your​ ​dream​ ​was​ ​gone. 
 
MARK 
Seems​ ​like​ ​life’s​ ​all​ ​about​ ​giving​ ​up​ ​one​ ​dream​ ​for​ ​another.​ ​ ​The​ ​trick​ ​is 
knowin’​ ​which​ ​one’s​ ​the​ ​right​ ​dream. 
 
LEVI 
How​ ​did​ ​you​ ​know​ ​what​ ​the​ ​right​ ​dream​ ​was? 
 
MARK 
Sometimes​ ​the​ ​universe​ ​shows​ ​you​ ​what​ ​path​ ​you’re​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​take, 
even​ ​when​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​it​ ​your​ ​own​ ​self. 
 
LEVI 
The​ ​universe? 
 
MARK 
That’s​ ​what​ ​people​ ​who​ ​think​ ​they’re​ ​too​ ​sophisticated​ ​to​ ​believe​ ​in​ ​God 
call​ ​the​ ​Divine​ ​Force.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​very​ ​chic​ ​these​ ​days​ ​to​ ​say,​ ​“the​ ​universe” 
instead​ ​of​ ​saying,​ ​“God.” 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​the​ ​same​ ​thing​ ​they​ ​mean? 
 
MARK 
It​ ​lets​ ​people​ ​off​ ​the​ ​hook​ ​for​ ​ridicule​ ​should​ ​they​ ​use​ ​the​ ​word,​ ​“God.” 
 
LEVI 
God​ ​means​ ​ridicule?​ ​ ​How​ ​the​ ​English​ ​reason​ ​things​ ​out​ ​I’ll​ ​never 
understand. 
 
MARK 
Maybe​ ​it​ ​doesn’t​ ​matter​ ​what​ ​you​ ​call​ ​it.​ ​ ​The​ ​Universe.​ ​ ​God.​ ​ ​As​ ​long​ ​as 
you’re​ ​grateful. 
 
LEVI 
OUR​ ​TOWN​ ​is​ ​about​ ​God.​ ​ ​AND​ ​the​ ​Universe. 
 18 
 
MARK 
I​ ​love​ ​OUR​ ​TOWN.​ ​ ​Well,​ ​I​ ​love​ ​all​ ​theater.​ ​ ​My​ ​partner​ ​and​ ​I​ ​are​ ​goin’​ ​to 
New​ ​York​ ​tomorrow​ ​morning.​ ​ ​Our​ ​yearly​ ​trip.​ ​ ​We​ ​stay​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​weeks 
and​ ​see​ ​as​ ​many​ ​shows​ ​as​ ​we​ ​can.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​theater​ ​banquet. 
 
LEVI 
At​ ​the​ ​library​ ​in​ ​town​ ​I​ ​got​ ​some​ ​plays​ ​to​ ​read. 
 
MARK 
Whatcha​ ​readin’? 
 
LEVI 
INHERIT​ ​THE​ ​WIND. 
 
MARK 
A​ ​great​ ​play. 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​WAITING​ ​FOR​ ​GO​ ​DOT.​ ​ ​I​ ​need​ ​to​ ​read​ ​it​ ​a​ ​few​ ​more​ ​times​ ​so​ ​I​ ​can 
understand​ ​what​ ​it’s​ ​talkin’​ ​about. 
 
MARK 
Yeah,​ ​well,​ ​good​ ​luck​ ​with​ ​that​ ​plan.   
 
LEVI 
Out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​barn​ ​every​ ​Christmas,​ ​Papa​ ​reads​ ​the​ ​story​ ​of​ ​Jesus​ ​from​ ​the 
German​ ​Bible.​ ​ ​ ​That’s​ ​sorta​ ​like​ ​a​ ​play.​ ​ ​But​ ​when​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​OUR​ ​TOWN, 
with​ ​the​ ​electric​ ​lights​ ​on​ ​and​ ​the​ ​actors​ ​all​ ​dressed​ ​up​ ​and​ ​talkin’ 
pretty,​ ​well....​ ​ ​See,​ ​I​ ​just​ ​never​ ​knew. 
 
MARK 
Well,​ ​Kid.​ ​ ​My​ ​world’s​ ​full​ ​of​ ​stuff​ ​you’ve​ ​never​ ​seen.​ ​ ​And​ ​your​ ​world’s 
full​ ​of​ ​stuff​ ​I’ve​ ​never​ ​seen.​ ​ ​Like​ ​those​ ​cardinals​ ​fledging​ ​their​ ​nest​ ​you 
showed​ ​me.   
 
LEVI 
I​ ​got​ ​somethin’​ ​this​ ​week,​ ​too.​ ​ ​I’ve​ ​been​ ​watchin’​ ​‘em. 
 
(Levi​ ​shows​ ​Mark​ ​something​ ​at​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​produce 
stand.) 
 
MARK 
What?​ ​ ​Why,​ ​it’s....​ ​ ​Turtles.​ ​ ​What...? 
 
 19 
LEVI 
Box​ ​turtles.​ ​ ​They’re​ ​mating.​ ​ ​See,​ ​he​ ​starts​ ​up​ ​on​ ​her​ ​back,​ ​like​ ​cows 
mating,​ ​but​ ​then​ ​pretty​ ​soon,​ ​he’s​ ​standing​ ​straight​ ​up. 
 
MARK 
I​ ​swear​ ​I​ ​can​ ​see​ ​a​ ​smile​ ​on​ ​his​ ​face. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​then​ ​over​ ​on​ ​his​ ​back​ ​he​ ​falls.​ ​ ​And​ ​then​ ​they’re​ ​stuck​ ​together,​ ​and 
around​ ​she​ ​drags​ ​him.​ ​ ​Sometimes​ ​fer​ ​over​ ​an​ ​hour. 
 
MARK 
I​ ​never​ ​in​ ​my​ ​life​ ​woulda​ ​seen​ ​this​ ​if​ ​you​ ​hadn’t​ ​shown​ ​me. 
 
LEVI 
It​ ​somehow​ ​makes​ ​me​ ​sad,​ ​though. 
 
MARK 
Sad? 
 
LEVI 
Sad​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​don’t​ ​believe​ ​in​ ​reincarnation.​ ​ ​I​ ​wouldn’t​ ​mind​ ​comin’ 
back​ ​as​ ​a​ ​male​ ​turtle.   
 
(Mark​ ​laughs​ ​uproariously​ ​at​ ​this.) 
 
MARK 
Oh,​ ​my​ ​gosh.​ ​ ​Sometimes​ ​you​ ​surprise​ ​me. 
 
LEVI 
You​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​about​ ​reincarnation​ ​Amish​ ​are​ ​smart​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​know? 
 
(Mark​ ​begins​ ​paying​ ​for​ ​his​ ​purchases.) 
 
MARK 
Oh,​ ​I​ ​know​ ​you’re​ ​smart.​ ​ ​I​ ​just​ ​didn’t​ ​know​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​liked​ ​to​ ​make 
jokes! 
 
LEVI 
​ ​“Make​ ​a​ ​joyful​ ​noise​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​Lord.”   
 
MARK 
Well,​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​gift,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Finding​ ​God​ ​in​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​of​ ​amorous​ ​turtles. 
 
(Mark​ ​picks​ ​up​ ​the​ ​lipstick.) 
 20 
 
Somebody​ ​dropped​ ​their​ ​lip​ ​paint. 
 
LEVI 
Oh,​ ​that​ ​English​ ​woman.​ ​ ​Maybe​ ​she’ll​ ​come​ ​back​ ​fer​ ​it.​ ​ ​When​ ​in​ ​the 
mirror​ ​she​ ​looks​ ​and​ ​finds​ ​out​ ​what​ ​she​ ​really​ ​looks​ ​like. 
 
(He​ ​puts​ ​the​ ​lipstick​ ​beside​ ​the​ ​till.) 
 
MARK 
Levi,​ ​I​ ​love​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​you.​ ​ ​You​ ​make​ ​me​ ​laugh. 
 
LEVI 
You​ ​make​ ​me​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​a​ ​friend​ ​I​ ​have. 
 
MARK 
I’m​ ​very​ ​touched,​ ​Levi. 
 
LEVI 
Maybe​ ​about​ ​plays​ ​we​ ​can​ ​talk​ ​some​ ​more​ ​next​ ​time​ ​you​ ​come​ ​out,​ ​yah? 
 
MARK 
Anytime​ ​you​ ​want,​ ​Kiddo.​ ​ ​You​ ​know,​ ​I​ ​wonder.... 
 
LEVI 
What? 
 
MARK 
Look,​ ​maybe​ ​you’d​ ​like​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​New​ ​York​ ​with​ ​us?​ ​ ​See​ ​a​ ​buncha​ ​shows. 
Broadway.​ ​ ​And​ ​off-Broadway.​ ​ ​For​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​weeks.​ ​ ​If​ ​riding​ ​in​ ​a​ ​car 
isn’t​ ​too​ ​sinful​ ​for​ ​you.   
 
LEVI 
Cars​ ​are​ ​not​ ​sinful. 
 
MARK 
Then​ ​why​ ​not​ ​drive? 
 
LEVI 
To​ ​ride​ ​in​ ​a​ ​buggy​ ​gives​ ​us​ ​more​ ​time​ ​to​ ​appreciate​ ​God’s​ ​beautiful​ ​earth. 
And​ ​less​ ​time​ ​the​ ​trouble​ ​to​ ​get​ ​into. 
 
MARK 
Then​ ​come​ ​along​ ​with​ ​us.​ ​ ​You’ll​ ​get​ ​to​ ​see​ ​more​ ​theater​ ​than​ ​you 
dreamed​ ​existed. 
 21 
 
LEVI 
So​ ​this​ ​is​ ​what​ ​temptation​ ​feels​ ​like 
 
MARK 
Temptation? 
 
LEVI 
It​ ​feels​ ​like​ ​something​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​do​ ​more​ ​than​ ​anything​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world​ ​only 
know​ ​I​ ​must​ ​not.​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​biggest​ ​temptation​ ​I​ ​ever​ ​felt.​ ​ ​More​ ​than 
when​ ​I​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​swipe​ ​an​ ​apple​ ​pie​ ​cooling​ ​on​ ​Sarah​ ​Miller’s​ ​windowsill. 
 
MARK 
Yield!​ ​ ​Give​ ​in!!​ ​ ​Cave!!! 
 
LEVI 
You​ ​talk​ ​so​ ​colorful. 
 
See​ ​you​ ​can’t​ ​know​ ​what​ ​it’s​ ​like.​ ​ ​To​ ​know​ ​there’s​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​world​ ​out 
there​ ​full​ ​of​ ​things​ ​you’ve​ ​never​ ​seen,​ ​ideas​ ​you’ve​ ​never​ ​thought.​ ​ ​Beauty 
you’ve​ ​never​ ​imagined. 
 
MARK 
Here’s​ ​your​ ​chance. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​was​ ​thinkin’​ ​about​ ​goin’​ ​to​ ​Chicago​ ​to​ ​see​ ​some​ ​shows.​ ​ ​But​ ​it​ ​sorta 
scares​ ​me.​ ​ ​Such​ ​a​ ​big​ ​thing​ ​to​ ​do. 
 
MARK 
We’ll​ ​be​ ​there​ ​with​ ​you​ ​all​ ​the​ ​way. 
 
LEVI 
No,​ ​Mark.​ ​ ​No.​ ​ ​I​ ​can’t​ ​go. 
 
MARK 
Well,​ ​if​ ​you​ ​change​ ​your​ ​mind…. 
 
(Mark​ ​waves​ ​and​ ​exits.​ ​ ​Levi​ ​recites​ ​a​ ​passage​ ​from 
OUR​ ​TOWN.) 
 
LEVI 
“We​ ​all​ ​know​ ​that​ ​something​ ​is​ ​eternal.​ ​And​ ​it​ ​ain’t​ ​houses​ ​and​ ​it​ ​ain’t 
names,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​ain’t​ ​earth,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​ain’t​ ​even​ ​the​ ​stars.​ ​ ​Everybody​ ​knows​ ​in 
 22 
their​ ​bones​ ​that​ ​something​ ​is​ ​eternal,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​something​ ​has​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with 
human​ ​beings.” 
 
 
(Aaron​ ​Yoder​ ​enters,​ ​carrying​ ​produce​ ​for​ ​the​ ​stand.​ ​ ​He 
stands​ ​a​ ​moment,​ ​listening​ ​proudly​ ​to​ ​Levi.) 
 
AARON 
That’s​ ​beautiful,​ ​Son.​ ​ ​Something​ ​you​ ​wrote​ ​down? 
 
LEVI 
No,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​from​ ​a​ ​play​ ​called​ ​OUR​ ​TOWN.​ ​ ​From​ ​the​ ​library. 
 
AARON 
Well,​ ​it’s​ ​beautiful,​ ​like​ ​you​ ​all​ ​the​ ​time​ ​write​ ​down​ ​things​ ​beautiful.   
 
All​ ​damp​ ​and​ ​breathy​ ​Old​ ​Jake​ ​seemed​ ​this​ ​mornin’.​ ​ ​Like​ ​he’d​ ​been​ ​out 
of​ ​the​ ​barn​ ​runnin’.​ ​ ​Except​ ​still​ ​in​ ​his​ ​stall​ ​he​ ​was.​ ​ ​I​ ​hope​ ​he​ ​ain’t 
comin’​ ​down​ ​with​ ​somethin’.  
 
(Levi​ ​wants​ ​to​ ​change​ ​the​ ​subject.) 
 
LEVI 
Papa,​ ​do​ ​you​ ​think​ ​plays​ ​are​ ​worldly?​ ​ ​Like​ ​the​ ​English​ ​go​ ​to​ ​see.​ ​ ​In 
theaters.​ ​ ​With​ ​actors​ ​and​ ​costumes​ ​and​ ​lights. 
 
AARON 
(Lecherously.) 
 
With​ ​girls​ ​all​ ​painted​ ​up​ ​and​ ​dancing​ ​the​ ​hoochy​ ​cooch?​ ​ ​ ​ ​Waving​ ​their 
English​ ​bottoms​ ​around​ ​to​ ​get​ ​you​ ​all​ ​stirred​ ​up?​ ​ ​Make​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​take 
‘em​ ​up​ ​in​ ​the​ ​hayloft​ ​and​ ​see​ ​what’s​ ​under​ ​their​ ​knickers?​ ​ ​My​ ​son’s​ ​all 
grown​ ​up!​ ​ ​Ah,​ ​I​ ​remember​ ​my​ ​rumspringa. 
 
LEVI 
No.​ ​ ​No,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​I​ ​mean​ ​plays​ ​that​ ​make​ ​you​ ​think.​ ​ ​Like​ ​readin’​ ​a​ ​book 
only​ ​live​ ​right​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​your​ ​eyes. 
 
AARON 
What​ ​brought​ ​all​ ​this​ ​talk​ ​on​ ​about​ ​plays​ ​and​ ​actors​ ​on​ ​a​ ​stage?​ ​ ​Last​ ​I 
knew,​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​orchard​ ​you​ ​were​ ​pickin’​ ​apples.​ ​ ​Somethin’​ ​goin’​ ​on​ ​out 
in​ ​that​ ​orchard​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​about? 
 
LEVI 
See,​ ​I​ ​went​ ​to​ ​see​ ​a​ ​play.​ ​ ​At​ ​Wingspread.​ ​ ​A​ ​barn​ ​theater​ ​over​ ​by​ ​Sturgis.   
 23 
 
AARON 
Levi! 
 
LEVI 
Oh,​ ​not​ ​on​ ​purpose.​ ​ ​I​ ​was​ ​just​ ​deliverin’​ ​our​ ​produce​ ​up​ ​to​ ​them​ ​to​ ​feed 
the​ ​actors​ ​with.​ ​ ​Practicin’​ ​they​ ​were,​ ​and​ ​up​ ​into​ ​the​ ​hayloft​ ​I​ ​climbed. 
Oh,​ ​Papa,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​magic.​ ​ ​So​ ​it​ ​got​ ​me​ ​to​ ​thinkin’​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​library​ ​I 
stopped​ ​and​ ​brought​ ​home​ ​some​ ​plays.​ ​ ​And​ ​I’ve​ ​been​ ​readin’​ ​‘em. 
 
AARON 
You’ve​ ​always​ ​been​ ​a​ ​good​ ​boy.​ ​ ​ ​To​ ​shame​ ​me​ ​you​ ​wouldn’t​ ​do​ ​nothin’. 
But​ ​the​ ​English​ ​plays​ ​on​ ​a​ ​stage​ ​you​ ​know​ ​you​ ​can’t​ ​get​ ​involved​ ​in. 
You’re​ ​goin’​ ​to​ ​be​ ​Amish.​ ​ ​A​ ​farmer.​ ​ ​You​ ​must​ ​shun​ ​the​ ​outside​ ​world 
 
LEVI 
But,​ ​see....​ ​ ​See,​ ​it​ ​taken​ ​over​ ​my​ ​head.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​all​ ​I​ ​can​ ​think​ ​on. 
 
AARON 
But​ ​first​ ​plays​ ​then​ ​what?​ ​ ​Store-bought​ ​shirts​ ​and​ ​pants​ ​and​ ​preenin’ 
before​ ​a​ ​mirror?​ ​ ​A​ ​television?​ ​ ​You​ ​might​ ​as​ ​well​ ​be​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​English. 
 
Look,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​You’re​ ​a​ ​good​ ​boy.​ ​ ​You​ ​never​ ​even​ ​went​ ​on​ ​your​ ​rumspringa, 
because​ ​you​ ​didn’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​me​ ​here​ ​alone​ ​with​ ​the​ ​farm​ ​work.... 
 
LEVI 
With​ ​our​ ​autumn​ ​chores​ ​mostly​ ​done,​ ​maybe​ ​on​ ​my​ ​rumspringa​ ​I​ ​could 
go​ ​soon​ ​already. 
 
AARON 
Oh,​ ​I​ ​sure​ ​do​ ​remember​ ​my​ ​rumspringa.​ ​ ​Those​ ​English​ ​girls​ ​want​ ​to​ ​find 
out​ ​what​ ​it’s​ ​like​ ​to​ ​be​ ​with​ ​an​ ​Amishman.​ ​ ​You​ ​can​ ​have​ ​yourself​ ​some 
fun,​ ​Son,​ ​get​ ​it​ ​out​ ​of​ ​your​ ​system.   
 
You​ ​can​ ​stupsen​ ​the​ ​English,​ ​Son,​ ​but​ ​don’t​ ​marry​ ​‘em. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​you​ ​married​ ​Mutter. 
 
AARON 
I​ ​can’t​ ​imagine​ ​our​ ​life​ ​without​ ​her.​ ​ ​She​ ​fills​ ​me​ ​with​ ​love.​ ​ ​And​ ​my 
most-valuable​ ​possessions​ ​she​ ​gave​ ​me.​ ​ ​You​ ​and​ ​your​ ​sister.   
 
 24 
But​ ​the​ ​other​ ​women,​ ​they​ ​never​ ​really​ ​accepted​ ​her​ ​as​ ​one​ ​of​ ​us.​ ​ ​They 
leave​ ​her​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​quilting​ ​bees.​ ​ ​Don’t​ ​share​ ​their​ ​recipes.​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​sure, 
they​ ​smile​ ​to​ ​her​ ​face​ ​but​ ​cluck​ ​their​ ​tongues​ ​behind​ ​her​ ​back. 
 
And​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​You​ ​think​ ​maybe​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know,​ ​but​ ​sometimes​ ​I​ ​hear​ ​you​ ​and 
Mary​ ​laughin’​ ​about​ ​your​ ​mutter​ ​behind​ ​her​ ​back.​ ​ ​It​ ​shames​ ​me. 
 
LEVI 
She’s​ ​so​ ​different​ ​from​ ​us.​ ​ ​Why​ ​did​ ​you​ ​marry​ ​her,​ ​Papa? 
 
AARON 
Why?​ ​ ​Because​ ​I​ ​stupsen​ ​her​ ​and​ ​put​ ​you​ ​inside​ ​her​ ​belly.​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​look​ ​how 
big​ ​your​ ​eyes​ ​get.​ ​ ​You​ ​think​ ​your​ ​papa​ ​ain’t​ ​a​ ​man?​ ​ ​I​ ​was​ ​your​ ​age 
once,​ ​Levi,​ ​so​ ​I​ ​know​ ​how​ ​it​ ​is. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​you​ ​and​ ​Mutter?​ ​ ​This​ ​I​ ​never​ ​knew​ ​before.   
 
AARON 
God​ ​blessed​ ​me​ ​with​ ​a​ ​son​ ​that​ ​will​ ​be​ ​by​ ​my​ ​side​ ​till​ ​the​ ​day​ ​I​ ​die, 
helpin’​ ​me​ ​farm​ ​and​ ​take​ ​care​ ​of​ ​your​ ​mutter.​ ​ ​And​ ​then​ ​the​ ​next​ ​year, 
here​ ​comes​ ​along​ ​a​ ​sister​ ​fer​ ​you,​ ​Mary,​ ​and​ ​complete​ ​our​ ​family​ ​is. 
 
LEVI 
So?​ ​ ​Does​ ​everyone​ ​know​ ​this​ ​but​ ​me?​ ​ ​Does​ ​Mary​ ​know​ ​this?​ ​ ​Papa,​ ​I 
can’t​ ​believe​ ​this. 
 
AARON 
Well,​ ​things​ ​like​ ​this​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​tell​ ​a​ ​child.​ ​ ​But​ ​so​ ​the​ ​same​ ​thing​ ​don’t 
happen​ ​to​ ​you​ ​on​ ​your​ ​rumspringa​ ​I​ ​tell​ ​you.​ ​ ​You’re​ ​a​ ​man​ ​now,​ ​Levi,​ ​a 
young​ ​man. 
 
LEVI 
So​ ​Mutter​ ​her​ ​family​ ​gave​ ​up.​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​why​ ​she​ ​came​ ​to​ ​be​ ​Amish.​ ​ ​Fer 
me? 
 
AARON 
So​ ​you​ ​could​ ​grow​ ​up​ ​with​ ​your​ ​papa.​ ​ ​That’s​ ​how​ ​much​ ​we​ ​both​ ​love 
you,​ ​see? 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​so​ ​the​ ​bastard​ ​I​ ​wouldn’t​ ​be. 
 
AARON 
 25 
Levi,​ ​maybe​ ​the​ ​wrong​ ​way​ ​it​ ​started​ ​out.​ ​ ​Just​ ​kids​ ​we​ ​were.​ ​ ​But​ ​we’re 
both,​ ​your​ ​Mutter​ ​and​ ​I,​ ​glad​ ​it​ ​worked​ ​out​ ​in​ ​this​ ​way.​ ​ ​We​ ​both​ ​love 
you.​ ​ ​And​ ​are​ ​so​ ​proud​ ​of​ ​you. 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​the​ ​Bishop​ ​allowed​ ​it,​ ​her​ ​becomin’​ ​the​ ​Amish? 
 
AARON 
Well,​ ​he​ ​saw​ ​the​ ​situation​ ​with​ ​you,​ ​a​ ​fine​ ​young​ ​Amishman​ ​comin’​ ​soon 
into​ ​the​ ​world.​ ​ ​And​ ​she​ ​agreed​ ​to​ ​be​ ​baptised​ ​and​ ​to​ ​be​ ​Amish​ ​forever.   
 
But​ ​I​ ​see​ ​now,​ ​how​ ​sometimes​ ​it’s​ ​hard​ ​fer​ ​her.​ ​ ​One​ ​of​ ​her​ ​paintings​ ​she 
keeps​ ​wrapped​ ​up​ ​in​ ​a​ ​blanket,​ ​high​ ​up​ ​in​ ​the​ ​pantry.  
 
Sometimes,​ ​when​ ​she​ ​doesn’t​ ​think​ ​anyone​ ​is​ ​looking,​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​pantry 
she​ ​takes​ ​it​ ​and​ ​unwraps​ ​it.​ ​ ​She​ ​hugs​ ​it​ ​to​ ​herself​ ​and​ ​dances​ ​around 
the​ ​kitchen​ ​with​ ​it.​ ​ ​Sometimes​ ​it​ ​makes​ ​her​ ​cry. 
 
She​ ​was​ ​paintin’​ ​when​ ​I​ ​first​ ​met​ ​her. 
 
LEVI 
Yah,​ ​Papa?​ ​ ​Where? 
 
AARON 
A​ ​picture​ ​of​ ​our​ ​farm​ ​she​ ​was​ ​paintin’​ ​down​ ​in​ ​the​ ​meadow.​ ​ ​Her​ ​easel 
set​ ​up​ ​next​ ​to​ ​the​ ​haystack.​ ​ ​She​ ​didn’t​ ​know​ ​I​ ​was​ ​up​ ​there​ ​sleepin’​ ​off 
the​ ​last​ ​of​ ​my​ ​rumspringa​ ​till​ ​I​ ​slid​ ​down​ ​the​ ​haystack​ ​and​ ​almost 
knocked​ ​her​ ​over. 
 
LEVI 
Oh,​ ​Papa!​ ​ ​Did​ ​you​ ​frighten​ ​her? 
 
AARON 
One​ ​look​ ​in​ ​her​ ​eyes,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​knew​ ​our​ ​lives​ ​would​ ​be​ ​wrapped​ ​around 
each​ ​other​ ​forever.​ ​ ​And​ ​I​ ​could​ ​tell​ ​she​ ​knew​ ​it,​ ​too.​ ​ ​But​ ​that​ ​meant​ ​the 
paintings​ ​she​ ​couldn’t​ ​make​ ​no​ ​more.​ ​ ​“Make​ ​no​ ​images​ ​of​ ​any​ ​likeness 
of​ ​anything​ ​on​ ​Heaven​ ​or​ ​on​ ​Earth.” 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​the​ ​hex​ ​signs​ ​she​ ​still​ ​paints​ ​fer​ ​the​ ​tourists. 
 
AARON 
Hex​ ​signs​ ​don’t​ ​look​ ​like​ ​anything​ ​to​ ​me​ ​in​ ​Heaven.​ ​ ​Or​ ​on​ ​Earth.​ ​ ​But 
the​ ​Englishers​ ​buy​ ​‘em​ ​like​ ​they​ ​mean​ ​somethin’.​ ​ ​We​ ​get​ ​a​ ​few​ ​dollars 
 26 
fer​ ​‘em.​ ​ ​But​ ​her​ ​paintings,​ ​Son.​ ​ ​Her​ ​paintings​ ​used​ ​to​ ​sell​ ​fer​ ​many 
thousands​ ​of​ ​dollars. 
  
LEVI 
And​ ​fer​ ​me​ ​she​ ​gave​ ​it​ ​all​ ​up? 
 
AARON 
Yourself​ ​maybe​ ​you​ ​flatter​ ​too​ ​much.​ ​ ​Maybe​ ​some​ ​of​ ​it​ ​she​ ​gave​ ​up​ ​fer 
your​ ​Papa! 
 
So​ ​go​ ​on​ ​your​ ​rumspringa.​ ​ ​But​ ​no​ ​plays.​ ​ ​And​ ​be​ ​careful​ ​who​ ​you​ ​give 
your​ ​heart​ ​to.  
 
Sometimes​ ​some​ ​woman​ ​you​ ​think​ ​you​ ​just​ ​got​ ​to​ ​have.​ ​ ​But​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a 
good​ ​marriage,​ ​it’s​ ​how​ ​evenly​ ​yoked​ ​you​ ​are​ ​fer​ ​workin’​ ​and​ ​buildin’​ ​a 
life​ ​together.​ ​ ​Second​ ​Corinthians​ ​tells​ ​us,​ ​“Do​ ​not​ ​ye​ ​be​ ​unequally 
yoked.” 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​you​ ​love​ ​Mutter. 
 
AARON 
I​ ​do​ ​love​ ​your​ ​mutter.​ ​ ​And​ ​one​ ​day,​ ​you’ll​ ​love​ ​Becky​ ​Bontrager.​ ​ ​And 
marry​ ​her.​ ​ ​And​ ​we’ll​ ​have​ ​twice​ ​the​ ​farm​ ​we​ ​have​ ​now. 
 
LEVI 
Becky​ ​Bontrager! 
 
AARON 
Now​ ​listen.​ ​ ​Becky​ ​Bontrager​ ​got​ ​no​ ​brothers​ ​fer​ ​her​ ​Papa​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​their 
farm​ ​to.​ ​ ​And​ ​right​ ​up​ ​next​ ​to​ ​ours​ ​their​ ​farm​ ​is.   
 
Take​ ​a​ ​walk​ ​with​ ​her.​ ​ ​In​ ​the​ ​woods.​ ​ ​Down​ ​by​ ​the​ ​river.​ ​ ​Fer​ ​a​ ​bundling 
date​ ​go​ ​to​ ​her​ ​house. 
 
LEVI 
Papa! 
 
AARON 
You​ ​want​ ​I​ ​should​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​you​ ​like​ ​a​ ​child?​ ​ ​You’re​ ​a​ ​man​ ​now.​ ​ ​You​ ​know 
about​ ​these​ ​things. 
 
Go​ ​to​ ​her​ ​house​ ​fer​ ​a​ ​bundling​ ​date.​ ​ ​Her​ ​parents​ ​their​ ​eyes​ ​will​ ​turn​ ​and 
pretend​ ​not​ ​to​ ​see.​ ​ ​I​ ​know​ ​this​ ​already​ ​from​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​Becky’s​ ​papa. 
And​ ​you’ll​ ​see​ ​how​ ​much​ ​love​ ​grows​ ​between​ ​you. 
 27 
 
You​ ​marry​ ​her,​ ​and​ ​one​ ​day,​ ​her​ ​papa’s​ ​farm​ ​and​ ​our​ ​farm​ ​will​ ​all​ ​be 
yours.​ ​ ​You’ll​ ​have​ ​the​ ​best​ ​farm​ ​in​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​state​ ​of​ ​Indiana. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​Becky​ ​Bontrager’s​ ​a​ ​cow. 
 
AARON 
Levi!​ ​ ​You​ ​don’t​ ​marry​ ​a​ ​girl​ ​because​ ​of​ ​how​ ​she​ ​looks.​ ​ ​You​ ​marry​ ​a​ ​girl 
because​ ​of​ ​what’s​ ​in​ ​her​ ​heart. 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​how​ ​big​ ​her​ ​father’s​ ​farm​ ​is. 
 
AARON 
Good​ ​farmland​ ​is​ ​disappearin’.​ ​ ​Having​ ​you​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​work​ ​in​ ​an​ ​Englisher 
factory​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​want​ ​you​ ​should​ ​do.​ ​ ​Makin’​ ​camping​ ​trailers​ ​and​ ​other 
worthless​ ​Englisher​ ​things,​ ​like​ ​the​ ​Burkholder​ ​boys​ ​got​ ​to​ ​do​ ​because 
their​ ​father’s​ ​farm​ ​ain’t​ ​big​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​support​ ​‘em​ ​all. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​to​ ​support​ ​a​ ​family​ ​fer​ ​me​ ​and​ ​you​ ​and​ ​Mutter​ ​our​ ​farm​ ​is​ ​big 
enough. 
 
AARON 
But​ ​then​ ​when​ ​your​ ​sons​ ​come​ ​along.​ ​ ​Go​ ​to​ ​my​ ​grave​ ​I’d​ ​like​ ​knowin’​ ​I 
taken​ ​care​ ​of​ ​my​ ​family,​ ​right​ ​down​ ​the​ ​line,​ ​beyond​ ​you​ ​and​ ​beyond 
your​ ​sons. 
 
Besides,​ ​a​ ​good,​ ​sturdy​ ​gal​ ​Becky​ ​Bontrager​ ​is.​ ​ ​A​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​sons​ ​she’ll​ ​bear 
you​ ​to​ ​help​ ​with​ ​your​ ​farm.​ ​ ​And​ ​she’s​ ​not​ ​afraid​ ​to​ ​work​ ​either​ ​yet. 
 
LEVI 
Sounds​ ​like​ ​pickin’​ ​out​ ​a​ ​wife​ ​is​ ​like​ ​pickin’​ ​out​ ​a​ ​horse. 
 
AARON 
It​ ​is​ ​like​ ​that,​ ​Son.​ ​ ​You​ ​pick​ ​a​ ​good​ ​horse,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​good​ ​twenty,​ ​thirty 
years​ ​it’ll​ ​work​ ​fer​ ​you​ ​if​ ​you’re​ ​lucky.​ ​ ​Same​ ​with​ ​a​ ​wife.​ ​ ​Fer​ ​you​ ​she’ll 
work​ ​a​ ​long​ ​time,​ ​iffen​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​ride​ ​her​ ​too​ ​hard. 
 
LEVI 
Papa!! 
 
AARON 
 28 
A​ ​young​ ​fella​ ​like​ ​you,​ ​you​ ​not​ ​careful,​ ​a​ ​sturdy​ ​Amish​ ​girl​ ​you​ ​could​ ​ride 
into​ ​an​ ​early​ ​grave.​ ​ ​But​ ​at​ ​least​ ​with​ ​a​ ​smile​ ​on​ ​her​ ​face​ ​she’d​ ​go! 
 
LEVI 
Papa!! 
 
AARON 
Besides,​ ​didn’t​ ​I​ ​hear​ ​Becky’s​ ​partner​ ​you​ ​were​ ​at​ ​the​ ​corn​ ​huskin’​ ​last 
Saturday? 
 
LEVI 
Becky​ ​trapped​ ​me​ ​into​ ​it.​ ​ ​Rude​ ​by​ ​refusin’​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be. 
 
AARON 
You​ ​just​ ​go​ ​on​ ​your​ ​rumspringa,​ ​Son.​ ​ ​Get​ ​the​ ​taste​ ​of​ ​liquor​ ​in​ ​you,​ ​so 
you​ ​won’t​ ​rue​ ​missin’​ ​it.​ ​ ​Sow​ ​your​ ​wild​ ​oats​ ​and​ ​then​ ​come​ ​back,​ ​settle 
down,​ ​and​ ​be​ ​Amish. 
 
LEVI 
Drinkin’​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​care​ ​about.​ ​ ​ ​I​ ​see​ ​how​ ​Amos​ ​Byler​ ​took​ ​his​ ​rumspringa, 
and​ ​he​ ​came​ ​back​ ​all​ ​changed​ ​because​ ​of​ ​drugs​ ​and​ ​liquor. 
 
AARON 
Then​ ​what​ ​will​ ​you​ ​do? 
 
LEVI 
Look,​ ​Papa,​ ​a​ ​rumspringa​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​need.​ ​ ​If​ ​seein’​ ​plays​ ​is​ ​too​ ​worldly,​ ​I’ll 
just​ ​stay​ ​here.​ ​ ​But​ ​is​ ​it​ ​OK​ ​I​ ​should​ ​read​ ​the​ ​plays?​ ​ ​From​ ​the​ ​library? 
 
AARON 
Should​ ​readin’​ ​the​ ​plays​ ​make​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​veer​ ​from​ ​your​ ​lovin’​ ​plain 
path,​ ​then​ ​no.​ ​ ​You​ ​shouldn’t​ ​read​ ​‘em. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​was​ ​talkin’​ ​to​ ​Mark​ ​about​ ​plays​ ​this​ ​morning.... 
 
AARON 
Mark?​ ​ ​Who’s​ ​this? 
 
LEVI 
Mark​ ​Cummings. 
 
AARON 
Mark​ ​Cummings?​ ​ ​The​ ​one​ ​in​ ​Shipshewana​ ​who​ ​runs​ ​that​ ​bed​ ​and 
breakfast? 
 29 
 
LEVI 
Yah,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​I​ ​think​ ​he’s​ ​my​ ​new​ ​friend.​ ​ ​Like​ ​you’re​ ​friends​ ​with​ ​that 
Englisher,​ ​Paul​ ​Smith.  
 
AARON 
My​ ​friend​ ​he​ ​is​ ​not.​ ​ ​Just​ ​because​ ​we’re​ ​pleasant​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other​ ​when​ ​we 
do​ ​business​ ​don’t​ ​make​ ​him​ ​my​ ​friend.​ ​ ​No​ ​Amishman​ ​can​ ​have​ ​an 
Englisher​ ​friend. 
 
LEVI 
Yah,​ ​Papa. 
 
AARON 
So.​ ​ ​Your​ ​rumspringa​ ​you​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​go​ ​on.​ ​ ​Not​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​girls​ ​or​ ​try 
liquor?​ ​ ​But​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​see​ ​the​ ​plays? 
 
And​ ​your​ ​friend​ ​is​ ​Mark​ ​Cummings?​ ​ ​Who​ ​owns​ ​that​ ​bed​ ​and​ ​breakfast 
in​ ​Shipshewana? 
 
LEVI 
Yah,​ ​Papa. 
 
(Aaron,​ ​drawing​ ​a​ ​deep​ ​breath,​ ​paces​ ​a​ ​moment.) 
 
AARON 
I​ ​got​ ​something​ ​in​ ​the​ ​garden​ ​to​ ​show​ ​you,​ ​Son. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​the​ ​horses​ ​I​ ​got​ ​to​ ​go​ ​put​ ​away.... 
 
AARON 
They​ ​can​ ​wait.​ ​ ​There’s​ ​a​ ​grave​ ​over​ ​here,​ ​in​ ​that​ ​old​ ​sink​ ​hole.​ ​ ​To​ ​know 
what​ ​happened​ ​to​ ​Moses​ ​Beachy​ ​you’re​ ​old​ ​enough​ ​now.​ ​ ​Down​ ​here​ ​in 
that​ ​grave​ ​he’s​ ​buried,​ ​away​ ​from​ ​decent​ ​Amish​ ​folks,​ ​all​ ​alone​ ​fer 
eternity,​ ​because​ ​of​ ​his​ ​own​ ​actions. 
 
LEVI 
Papa,​ ​what​ ​are​ ​you​ ​sayin’...? 
 
AARON 
He​ ​was​ ​abomination.​ ​ ​Homosexual.​ ​ ​God​ ​struck​ ​him​ ​dead,​ ​and​ ​his​ ​family 
put​ ​him​ ​down​ ​there,​ ​because​ ​to​ ​be​ ​with​ ​Godly​ ​folks​ ​he’s​ ​not​ ​fit. 
 
LEVI 
 30 
Why​ ​are​ ​you​ ​tellin’​ ​me​ ​this? 
 
AARON 
This​ ​is​ ​why​ ​we​ ​draw​ ​our​ ​customs​ ​up​ ​around​ ​us,​ ​from​ ​the​ ​sins​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the 
world​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​us. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​why​ ​this​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​homosexuals? 
 
AARON 
Because​ ​with​ ​that​ ​abomination,​ ​Mark​ ​Cummings,​ ​you’re​ ​friends.​ ​ ​I 
thought​ ​I​ ​knew​ ​everything​ ​about​ ​you,​ ​but​ ​now​ ​seein’​ ​plays​ ​and 
homosexuals,​ ​all​ ​in​ ​one​ ​day. 
 
LEVI 
No!​ ​ ​Mark​ ​is​ ​abomination?​ ​ ​How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​know​ ​this? 
 
AARON 
He​ ​is​ ​abomination​ ​I​ ​can​ ​tell​ ​by​ ​lookin’​ ​at​ ​him.​ ​ ​Can’t​ ​you​ ​tell? 
 
LEVI 
No​ ​such​ ​worldly​ ​knowledge​ ​I​ ​have,​ ​Papa. 
 
AARON 
He​ ​keeps​ ​it​ ​no​ ​secret.​ ​ ​Everyone​ ​knows. 
 
(Levi​ ​ponders​ ​this​ ​and​ ​then​ ​begins​ ​laughing 
uproariously.) 
 
AARON 
What...?​ ​ ​Has​ ​seein’​ ​that​ ​play​ ​frahootled​ ​you? 
 
LEVI 
No.​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​Nobody’s​ ​really​ ​buried​ ​down​ ​there.​ ​ ​All​ ​the​ ​kids​ ​know 
grownups​ ​use​ ​that​ ​old​ ​sinkhole​ ​to​ ​scare​ ​us,​ ​to​ ​make​ ​us​ ​behave.​ ​ ​ ​You 
think​ ​I’m​ ​homosexual??​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​Papa.... 
 
AARON 
Levi,​ ​this​ ​world​ ​is​ ​gone​ ​mad​ ​with​ ​sin.​ ​ ​What​ ​if​ ​we​ ​are​ ​God’s​ ​last 
stronghold?​ ​ ​What​ ​if​ ​it​ ​is​ ​up​ ​to​ ​us,​ ​and​ ​only​ ​us,​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​something 
holy​ ​is​ ​left​ ​upon​ ​this​ ​earth?​ ​ ​Us​ ​and​ ​our​ ​children​ ​and​ ​their​ ​children.​ ​ ​At 
such​ ​things​ ​you​ ​should​ ​never​ ​laugh,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​too​ ​serious. 
 
LEVI 
Papa,​ ​I’m​ ​not​ ​homosexual. 
 31 
 
AARON 
To​ ​marry​ ​Becky​ ​Bontrager​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​want,​ ​and​ ​she’s​ ​a​ ​fine​ ​Amish​ ​girl. 
 
LEVI 
Oh,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​Hannah​ ​Lambright​ ​stole​ ​my​ ​heart.  
 
AARON 
Hannah​ ​Lambright!​ ​ ​But​ ​she​ ​has​ ​four​ ​brothers!​ ​ ​You’ll​ ​never​ ​get​ ​even​ ​one 
acre​ ​of​ ​her​ ​papa’s​ ​farm.​ ​ ​No,​ ​Becky​ ​Bontrager’s​ ​the​ ​one​ ​fer​ ​you.   
 
We’ve​ ​had​ ​a​ ​good​ ​talk,​ ​Son.​ ​ ​But​ ​no​ ​more​ ​plays.​ ​ ​And​ ​no​ ​more​ ​friendship 
with​ ​Mark​ ​Cummings. 
 
LEVI 
So​ ​we​ ​should​ ​treat​ ​him​ ​like​ ​the​ ​English​ ​treat​ ​us?​ ​ ​Just​ ​because​ ​he’s 
different,​ ​too. 
 
AARON 
Levi!​ ​ ​Surely​ ​the​ ​difference​ ​between​ ​Amish​ ​and​ ​abomination​ ​you​ ​can​ ​see. 
 
LEVI 
Yah,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​Yah,​ ​I​ ​can.​ ​ ​I​ ​never​ ​knew​ ​he​ ​was​ ​abomination.​ ​ ​I​ ​never​ ​knew 
there​ ​were​ ​any​ ​homosexuals​ ​in​ ​all​ ​of​ ​Indiana. 
 
AARON 
Levi,​ ​you’re​ ​so​ ​trusting​ ​of​ ​people.​ ​ ​And​ ​sometimes​ ​a​ ​pure​ ​heart​ ​that​ ​just 
shows. 
 
LEVI 
It’s​ ​some​ ​kinda​ ​day​ ​fer​ ​findin’​ ​out​ ​things. 
 
(Sarah​ ​Miller​ ​enters,​ ​carrying​ ​a​ ​basket​ ​of​ ​food.) 
 
AARON 
God​ ​bless​ ​you,​ ​Sarah.​ ​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​what​ ​we’d​ ​do​ ​without​ ​you. 
 
SARAH 
Without​ ​you,​ ​either,​ ​Aaron,​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​what​ ​I’d​ ​do.​ ​ ​Und​ ​your​ ​family. 
 
LEVI 
We​ ​love​ ​your​ ​food,​ ​Sarah. 
 
SARAH 
If​ ​a​ ​good​ ​cook​ ​I​ ​am,​ ​it’s​ ​only​ ​that​ ​God​ ​guides​ ​my​ ​hand. 
 32 
 
Listen,​ ​Aaron,​ ​there​ ​was​ ​a​ ​barn​ ​fire​ ​last​ ​night.​ ​ ​Over​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Hersbergers.   
 
LEVI 
Oh,​ ​no.... 
 
AARON 
Was​ ​anyone​ ​hurt?   
 
SARAH 
No​ ​one’s​ ​hurt.​ ​ ​Most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​animals​ ​they​ ​got​ ​out​ ​in​ ​time.​ ​ ​Lost​ ​a​ ​few 
sheep. 
 
The​ ​men​ ​are​ ​gonna​ ​raise​ ​the​ ​barn​ ​next​ ​Tuesday. 
 
AARON 
We’ll​ ​be​ ​there,​ ​Levi​ ​and​ ​me.​ ​ ​I​ ​guess​ ​the​ ​food​ ​the​ ​women​ ​will​ ​bring. 
 
SARAH 
That’s​ ​OK.​ ​ ​Katherine​ ​don’t​ ​need​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​anything.​ ​ ​I’ll​ ​bring​ ​enough​ ​fer 
you. 
 
LEVI 
God​ ​bless​ ​you,​ ​Sarah​ ​Miller.​ ​ ​Was​ ​it​ ​lightning​ ​burned​ ​the​ ​barn? 
 
SARAH 
They​ ​think​ ​somebody​ ​set​ ​the​ ​fire​.​ ​ ​Why​ ​can’t​ ​the​ ​English​ ​just​ ​leave​ ​us 
alone? 
 
AARON 
Why​ ​can’t​ ​over​ ​there​ ​the​ ​English​ ​stay​ ​and​ ​over​ ​here​ ​us?​ ​ ​Like​ ​we​ ​want. 
 
Speaking​ ​of​ ​the​ ​English.​ ​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​Amos​ ​Byler​ ​walking​ ​up​ ​the​ ​road​ ​toward 
our​ ​produce​ ​stand. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​still​ ​think​ ​of​ ​Amos​ ​as​ ​Amish. 
 
AARON 
Amos​ ​Byler​ ​ain’t​ ​Amish​ ​no​ ​more.​ ​ ​He​ ​was​ ​shunned.​ ​ ​If​ ​he​ ​ain’t​ ​Amish, 
then​ ​he’s​ ​the​ ​English.​ ​ ​You​ ​didn’t​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​him,​ ​did​ ​you,​ ​Levi? 
 
LEVI 
No,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​No. 
 
 33 
AARON 
Good.​ ​ ​You​ ​must​ ​never​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​him​ ​again​ ​ever. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​remember​ ​what​ ​a​ ​good​ ​friend​ ​he​ ​was?​ ​ ​Fishing​ ​we​ ​used​ ​to​ ​go​ ​every 
Saturday.​ ​ ​And​ ​we​ ​rigged​ ​up​ ​that​ ​rope​ ​by​ ​the​ ​swimmin’​ ​hole.​ ​ ​But​ ​he 
came​ ​back​ ​all​ ​changed.​ ​ ​He​ ​was​ ​by​ ​here​ ​this​ ​morning.​ ​ ​Calls​ ​himself 
“Gary​ ​Smith”​ ​now. 
 
SARAH 
God​ ​bless​ ​him.​ ​ ​All​ ​alone​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world. 
 
AARON 
Just​ ​stickin’​ ​around​ ​here​ ​rottin’​ ​like​ ​a​ ​piece​ ​of​ ​meat​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sun.​ ​ ​The 
Amish​ ​don’t​ ​want​ ​him​ ​no​ ​more.​ ​ ​But​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​movin’​ ​on​ ​with​ ​his​ ​life,​ ​he 
just​ ​stays​ ​here​ ​and​ ​makes​ ​life​ ​miserable​ ​fer​ ​everyone.​ ​ ​In​ ​with​ ​the 
English​ ​he​ ​doesn’t​ ​fit.​ ​ ​And​ ​in​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​he​ ​doesn’t​ ​fit.​ ​ ​Nowhere​ ​to 
fit​ ​in​ ​he​ ​got. 
 
SARAH 
I’ll​ ​never​ ​forget​ ​that​ ​awful​ ​day.​ ​ ​Amos​ ​grabbed​ ​that​ ​can​ ​of​ ​money,​ ​our​ ​life 
savings,​ ​und​ ​took​ ​off​ ​across​ ​our​ ​front​ ​lawn.​ ​ ​Matthew​ ​right​ ​behind​ ​him. 
But​ ​then,​ ​right​ ​down​ ​on​ ​the​ ​ground​ ​Matthew​ ​dropped.​ ​ ​Never​ ​sick​ ​a​ ​day 
in​ ​his​ ​life​ ​und​ ​just​ ​dropped​ ​down​ ​dead. 
 
So​ ​Amos​ ​Byler​ ​the​ ​elders​ ​excommunicated,​ ​because​ ​his​ ​bad​ ​actions 
caused​ ​a​ ​man’s​ ​death. 
 
LEVI 
Yet​ ​so​ ​understanding​ ​you​ ​are​ ​about​ ​how​ ​hard​ ​it​ ​is​ ​fer​ ​him​ ​now?​ ​ ​And​ ​say 
God​ ​bless​ ​him. 
 
SARAH 
Ah,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​I​ ​tried​ ​hating​ ​him.​ ​ ​But​ ​so​ ​bad​ ​in​ ​my​ ​heart​ ​that​ ​felt,​ ​forgiving 
him​ ​felt​ ​better.​ ​ ​In​ ​an​ ​Amish​ ​heart,​ ​a​ ​grudge​ ​don’t​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​fit​ ​so​ ​good. 
 
LEVI 
Your​ ​husband​ ​he​ ​killed!  
 
SARAH 
He’s​ ​being​ ​punished,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Cast​ ​out​ ​into​ ​the​ ​world​ ​with​ ​no​ ​one​ ​to​ ​love 
him.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​the​ ​worst​ ​thing​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world​ ​not​ ​to​ ​be​ ​loved​ ​by​ ​anyone.​ ​ ​Imagine 
the​ ​depth​ ​of​ ​his​ ​loneliness. 
 
LEVI 
 34 
All​ ​mixed​ ​up​ ​he​ ​is​ ​because​ ​of​ ​drugs.​ ​ ​We​ ​should​ ​get​ ​him​ ​help. 
 
AARON 
That​ ​ain’t​ ​our​ ​place. 
 
LEVI 
Papa,​ ​that​ ​just​ ​seems​ ​wrong,​ ​turnin’​ ​our​ ​backs​ ​on​ ​him.  
 
AARON 
It’s​ ​not​ ​you​ ​who​ ​decides​ ​what​ ​is​ ​right​ ​and​ ​wrong.​ ​ ​Nor​ ​me.​ ​ ​Nor​ ​the 
elders.​ ​ ​God​ ​is​ ​the​ ​judge​ ​of​ ​all.​ ​ ​Besides,​ ​we​ ​shouldn’t​ ​be​ ​gossiping​ ​such 
as​ ​this 
 
SARAH 
Well,​ ​maybe​ ​you’re​ ​right. 
 
Katherine​ ​now​ ​I​ ​should​ ​see​ ​to.​ ​ ​Everything​ ​going​ ​all​ ​right? 
 
LEVI 
Well.​ ​ ​She​ ​made​ ​the​ ​noodles.​ ​ ​Without​ ​you. 
 
SARAH 
How’d​ ​that​ ​go? 
 
LEVI 
Well,​ ​they’re​ ​colorful! 
 
SARAH 
Colorful?​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​Dear.​ ​ ​I​ ​told​ ​her​ ​I’d​ ​make​ ​them​ ​today. 
 
(She​ ​bustles​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​porch​ ​and​ ​in​ ​through​ ​the​ ​kitchen 
door.​ ​ ​Lights​ ​up​ ​on​ ​kitchen,​ ​where​ ​Katherine​ ​is​ ​washing 
dishes​ ​in​ ​the​ ​kitchen​ ​sink.​ ​ ​Lights​ ​down​ ​on​ ​the​ ​produce 
stand.​ ​ ​When​ ​Levi​ ​is​ ​sure​ ​no​ ​one​ ​is​ ​looking,​ ​he​ ​pulls​ ​out 
a​ ​play​ ​and​ ​reads​ ​it.) 
 
KATHERINE 
Oh!​ ​ ​You​ ​startled​ ​me.​ ​ ​Coming​ ​in​ ​like​ ​that. 
 
SARAH 
I’m​ ​here​ ​every​ ​day.​ ​ ​To​ ​help​ ​you.​ ​ ​You​ ​want​ ​I​ ​should​ ​knock​ ​still​ ​after​ ​all 
these​ ​years​ ​even? 
 
KATHERINE 
You​ ​act​ ​like​ ​my​ ​family​ ​is​ ​your​ ​family. 
 35 
 
SARAH 
The​ ​noodles​ ​you​ ​made?​ ​ ​You​ ​know​ ​I​ ​was​ ​going​ ​to​ ​make​ ​them​ ​today. 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​already​ ​made​ ​them. 
 
SARAH 
Well,​ ​where​ ​are​ ​they?​ ​ ​Let​ ​me​ ​see​ ​‘em. 
 
KATHERINE 
In​ ​the​ ​pantry. 
 
(Sarah​ ​goes​ ​into​ ​the​ ​pantry​ ​and​ ​brings​ ​out​ ​noodles, 
drying​ ​on​ ​a​ ​rack.​ ​ ​They​ ​are​ ​all​ ​different​ ​colors​ ​–​ ​green, 
yellow,​ ​red…..) 
 
SARAH 
What​ ​did​ ​you​ ​do​ ​to​ ​these​ ​noodles?​ ​ ​These​ ​are​ ​not​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​noodles. 
Look!​ ​ ​Green! 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​added​ ​a​ ​little​ ​chopped​ ​spinach​ ​to​ ​the​ ​dough. 
 
SARAH 
And​ ​red! 
 
KATHERINE 
Beets! 
 
SARAH 
And​ ​yellow! 
 
KATHERINE 
Some​ ​butternut​ ​squash.​ ​ ​Tastes​ ​delicious. 
 
SARAH 
These​ ​are​ ​not​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​noodles.​ ​ ​I​ ​must​ ​make​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​noodles​ ​fer 
you. 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​like​ ​to​ ​experiment​ ​sometimes.​ ​ ​Instead​ ​of​ ​fixing​ ​the​ ​same​ ​things​ ​over 
and​ ​over​ ​again.​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​and​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​to​ ​worry​ ​about​ ​canning​ ​our 
tomatoes​ ​for​ ​us​ ​this​ ​year.​ ​ ​I​ ​canned​ ​tomatoes​ ​from​ ​the​ ​garden.​ ​ ​Thirty 
quarts.​ ​ ​By​ ​myself.​ ​ ​Without​ ​you. 
 36 
 
SARAH 
Und​ ​canned​ ​tomatoes?​ ​ ​Have​ ​you​ ​ever​ ​canned​ ​anything​ ​before?​ ​ ​In​ ​your 
whole​ ​life? 
 
KATHERINE 
Well,​ ​no,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​wasn’t​ ​that​ ​hard.  
 
SARAH 
Did​ ​you​ ​put​ ​them​ ​through​ ​the​ ​hot​ ​bath,​ ​to​ ​seal​ ​the​ ​jars? 
 
KATHERINE 
The​ ​hot​ ​bath?​ ​ ​Well.​ ​ ​Well,​ ​of​ ​course​ ​I​ ​did. 
 
(Only​ ​she​ ​didn’t.) 
 
SARAH 
Making​ ​der​ ​noodles​ ​is​ ​my​ ​job. 
 
KATHERINE 
Mary​ ​runs​ ​over​ ​to​ ​your​ ​house​ ​every​ ​day,​ ​so​ ​she​ ​can​ ​learn​ ​how​ ​to​ ​cook 
and​ ​sew.​ ​ ​How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​think​ ​that​ ​makes​ ​me​ ​feel? 
 
I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​good​ ​mother.​ ​ ​And​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​my​ ​own​ ​daughter​ ​what​ ​she 
must​ ​know.​ ​ ​ ​I​ ​know​ ​how​ ​to​ ​cook! 
 
SARAH 
Englisher​ ​food!​ ​ ​Noodles​ ​like​ ​Joseph’s​ ​coat​ ​of​ ​many​ ​colors. 
 
Cooking​ ​is​ ​not​ ​your​ ​job.​ ​ ​Making​ ​the​ ​hex​ ​signs​ ​fer​ ​the​ ​tourists​ ​is​ ​your 
job.​ ​ ​Und​ ​tending​ ​your​ ​garden​ ​und​ ​taking​ ​care​ ​of​ ​the​ ​chickens.​ ​ ​Und​ ​all 
the​ ​laundry​ ​you​ ​got​ ​to​ ​do.​ ​ ​Und​ ​delivering​ ​my​ ​food​ ​to​ ​the​ ​shut-ins.​ ​ ​No, 
you​ ​got​ ​enough​ ​yer​ ​hands​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​busy. 
 
KATHERINE 
You​ ​keep​ ​comin’​ ​here​ ​like​ ​my​ ​family​ ​is​ ​your​ ​own.   
 
SARAH 
That’s​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​way,​ ​to​ ​help​ ​our​ ​own.​ ​ ​I​ ​see​ ​you​ ​struggling.... 
 
KATHERINE 
You​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​I​ ​can​ ​do​ ​anything​ ​right.​ ​ ​Everything​ ​I​ ​touch​ ​in​ ​the 
kitchen​ ​is​ ​not​ ​like​ ​you​ ​want​ ​it​ ​to​ ​be!​ ​ ​Maybe​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​approve​ ​of​ ​the​ ​way 
I​ ​raise​ ​my​ ​children,​ ​either. 
 
 37 
SARAH 
Your​ ​children​ ​I​ ​love​ ​like​ ​my​ ​own​ ​they​ ​are.​ ​ ​ ​The​ ​whole​ ​Amish​ ​community 
is​ ​their​ ​family.​ ​ ​Should​ ​something​ ​wrong​ ​I​ ​see​ ​them​ ​doing,​ ​I​ ​would​ ​tell 
your​ ​husband.​ ​ ​Because​ ​I​ ​want​ ​them​ ​always​ ​to​ ​be​ ​on​ ​the​ ​right​ ​path. 
 
KATHERINE 
When​ ​my​ ​mother​ ​needed​ ​noodles,​ ​she​ ​just​ ​opened​ ​up​ ​a​ ​package.​ ​ ​And 
bought​ ​tomatoes​ ​from​ ​the​ ​store.​ ​ ​And​ ​raised​ ​us​ ​kids​ ​without​ ​our 
neighbors​ ​putting​ ​their​ ​nose​ ​in. 
 
SARAH 
So,​ ​a​ ​buttinsky​ ​you​ ​think​ ​I​ ​am!​ ​ ​So​ ​now​ ​I​ ​know​ ​what​ ​you​ ​think​ ​about 
me,​ ​Katherine,​ ​I’ll​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​exactly​ ​what​ ​I​ ​think​ ​about​ ​you. 
 
I​ ​think​ ​you’ve​ ​been​ ​so​ ​generous​ ​und​ ​kind​ ​to​ ​let​ ​me​ ​be​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​your 
family.​ ​ ​When​ ​my​ ​man​ ​died,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​lost.​ ​ ​No​ ​sons​ ​to​ ​pick​ ​up​ ​the​ ​slack. 
Not​ ​even​ ​a​ ​daughter!​ ​ ​Everyone​ ​clucks​ ​their​ ​tongue​ ​in​ ​pity. 
 
Comin’​ ​here​ ​gave​ ​me​ ​a​ ​purpose​ ​to​ ​get​ ​up​ ​in​ ​the​ ​mornin’.​ ​ ​Loved​ ​and 
lovin’​ ​it​ ​made​ ​me​ ​feel.​ ​ ​ ​So​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​thank​ ​you​ ​fer​ ​lettin’​ ​me​ ​the​ ​noodles 
to​ ​make​ ​all​ ​these​ ​years. 
 
KATHERINE 
Oh,​ ​Sarah.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​so​ ​grateful.​ ​ ​Really.​ ​ ​You​ ​make​ ​me​ ​ashamed​ ​of​ ​myself.   
 
It’s​ ​just….​ ​ ​Out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​never​ ​one​ ​to​ ​say,​ ​“That​ ​group​ ​is​ ​over 
there.​ ​ ​My​ ​group​ ​is​ ​over​ ​here.​ ​ ​They’re​ ​not​ ​as​ ​good​ ​as​ ​we​ ​are.”​ ​ ​I​ ​just 
thought​ ​all​ ​humans​ ​made​ ​one​ ​big​ ​group,​ ​just​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​get​ ​through​ ​life 
the​ ​best​ ​way​ ​we​ ​know​ ​how.  
 
But​ ​since​ ​I​ ​became​ ​Amish,​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​it’s​ ​me​ ​against​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​world. 
 
SARAH 
Because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​way​ ​the​ ​English​ ​treat​ ​us. 
 
KATHERINE 
No.​ ​ ​Because​ ​of​ ​how​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​treat​ ​me.​ ​ ​A​ ​group​ ​I’m​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​be 
welcomed​ ​into​ ​and​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of. 
 
(This​ ​impacts​ ​Sarah.) 
 
SARAH 
Look,​ ​Katherine.​ ​ ​This​ ​chicken​ ​pie​ ​I​ ​brought​ ​you​ ​fer​ ​your​ ​supper.​ ​ ​To​ ​go 
with​ ​it​ ​just​ ​make​ ​a​ ​salad​ ​from​ ​your​ ​produce​ ​stand.​ ​ ​Just​ ​save​ ​up​ ​eggs​ ​fer 
next​ ​week,​ ​und​ ​I’ll​ ​make​ ​the​ ​noodles.  
 38 
 
KATHERINE 
Sarah,​ ​I’m​ ​sorry​ ​I​ ​was​ ​short​ ​with​ ​you.​ ​ ​Only​ ​I​ ​want​ ​so​ ​bad​ ​to​ ​do​ ​things 
for​ ​my​ ​own​ ​family. 
 
SARAH 
If​ ​everything​ ​you​ ​was​ ​good​ ​at​ ​doin’,​ ​then​ ​what​ ​would​ ​I​ ​have​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with 
my​ ​life? 
 
(Sarah​ ​exits​ ​to​ ​the​ ​produce​ ​stand.​ ​ ​Lights​ ​down​ ​on​ ​the 
kitchen​ ​and​ ​up​ ​on​ ​the​ ​produce​ ​stand,​ ​where​ ​Levi​ ​is 
arranging​ ​produce.) 
 
SARAH 
Levi!​ ​ ​Lovely​ ​apples.​ ​ ​Mmmm.​ ​ ​So​ ​good​ ​they​ ​smell. 
 
LEVI 
You​ ​saw​ ​the​ ​noodles? 
 
SARAH 
Right​ ​you​ ​were.​ ​ ​Colorful! 
 
LEVI 
Not​ ​like​ ​any​ ​Amish​ ​noodles​ ​I​ ​ever​ ​saw. 
 
SARAH 
Oh!​ ​ ​Look​ ​at​ ​this​ ​watercress. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​found​ ​it​ ​growin’​ ​down​ ​in​ ​the​ ​brook​ ​this​ ​morning.​ ​ ​Here,​ ​fer​ ​your​ ​supper 
you​ ​take​ ​a​ ​bunch​ ​of​ ​it.​ ​ ​And​ ​some​ ​apples​ ​fer​ ​a​ ​pie.​ ​ ​And​ ​whatever​ ​else 
you​ ​want. 
 
SARAH 
Thank​ ​you,​ ​Levi. 
 
LEVI 
We’re​ ​glad​ ​to​ ​give​ ​you​ ​anything​ ​we​ ​have. 
 
(She​ ​loads​ ​the​ ​produce​ ​in​ ​her​ ​basket.) 
 
SARAH 
Now​ ​you​ ​set​ ​aside​ ​some​ ​eggs​ ​fer​ ​noodles,​ ​und​ ​next​ ​week,​ ​I’ll​ ​come​ ​by​ ​und 
make​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​last​ ​you​ ​through​ ​winter.​ ​ ​Amish​ ​noodles.​ ​ ​Und​ ​while​ ​I’m 
at​ ​it,​ ​I’ll​ ​teach​ ​Mary​ ​how​ ​to​ ​do​ ​it. 
 39 
 
LEVI 
Sure,​ ​Sarah. 
 
(Sarah​ ​exits.​ ​ ​Lights​ ​down​ ​on​ ​produce​ ​stand.​ ​ ​Lights​ ​up 
on​ ​kitchen,​ ​where​ ​Mary​ ​enters​ ​and​ ​washes​ ​her​ ​hands 
at​ ​the​ ​pump​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sink.) 
 
KATHERINE 
Mary,​ ​you’re​ ​back. 
 
MARY 
Yes,​ ​Mutter.​ ​ ​What​ ​is​ ​it? 
 
KATHERINE 
Mary,​ ​come​ ​sit​ ​and​ ​talk​ ​a​ ​bit. 
 
MARY 
I​ ​have​ ​so​ ​much​ ​to​ ​do.​ ​ ​When​ ​I​ ​get​ ​my​ ​work​ ​done​ ​in​ ​the​ ​garden,​ ​I​ ​must​ ​go 
over​ ​to​ ​Sarah​ ​Miller’s​ ​house.​ ​ ​We’re​ ​making​ ​a​ ​wedding​ ​ring​ ​quilt.​ ​ ​And 
tomorrow​ ​a​ ​sauerbraten​ ​we’re​ ​going​ ​to​ ​start. 
 
KATHERINE 
Just​ ​a​ ​moment​ ​with​ ​your​ ​mutter.​ ​ ​It​ ​seems​ ​like​ ​we​ ​never​ ​have​ ​a​ ​chance 
to​ ​talk. 
 
MARY 
Yes,​ ​Mutter. 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​wish​ ​we​ ​could​ ​spend​ ​more​ ​time​ ​together.​ ​ ​Here​ ​you​ ​are,​ ​my​ ​grown-up 
daughter,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​I​ ​hardly​ ​know​ ​you. 
 
MARY 
Yes,​ ​but​ ​I’m​ ​always​ ​so​ ​busy.​ ​ ​Here​ ​to​ ​the​ ​house​ ​and​ ​over​ ​to​ ​Sarah 
Miller’s. 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​could​ ​teach​ ​you​ ​to​ ​cook​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​dishes​ ​I​ ​grew​ ​up​ ​eating. 
 
MARY 
Not​ ​the​ ​German​ ​dishes? 
 
KATHERINE 
 40 
No.​ ​ ​Different​ ​things​ ​I​ ​used​ ​to​ ​cook.​ ​ ​Broiled​ ​salmon​ ​and​ ​mango​ ​salsa. 
Things​ ​like​ ​that. 
 
MARY 
But​ ​when​ ​I​ ​get​ ​married,​ ​my​ ​Amish​ ​husband​ ​won’t​ ​eat​ ​that.​ ​ ​So​ ​why 
should​ ​I​ ​learn​ ​to​ ​cook​ ​it? 
 
KATHERINE 
Mary….​ ​ ​Can’t​ ​you​ ​come​ ​and​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​me​ ​sometimes? 
 
MARY 
About​ ​what? 
 
KATHERINE 
You’re​ ​getting​ ​to​ ​an​ ​age,​ ​you​ ​could​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​me​ ​about​ ​boys.​ ​ ​That’s 
something​ ​I​ ​know​ ​about. 
 
MARY 
What​ ​do​ ​you​ ​know,​ ​Mutter.​ ​ ​About​ ​the​ ​boys? 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​know​ ​you​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be​ ​careful​ ​what​ ​you​ ​believe​ ​some​ ​boy​ ​tells​ ​you.​ ​ ​Tell 
you​ ​you’re​ ​pretty​ ​and​ ​wonderful​ ​just​ ​to​ ​get​ ​what​ ​he​ ​wants.​ ​ ​And​ ​then 
he’ll​ ​have​ ​nothing​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​you​ ​again.​ ​ ​These​ ​are​ ​things​ ​you​ ​must​ ​be 
careful​ ​of. 
 
MARY 
Did​ ​this​ ​happen​ ​to​ ​you​ ​a​ ​lot,​ ​Mutter?​ ​ ​Did​ ​you​ ​know​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​boys​ ​like 
this? 
 
KATHERINE 
Enough​ ​for​ ​me​ ​to​ ​want​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​you.​ ​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​want​ ​you​ ​getting​ ​hurt 
because​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​what’s​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world. 
 
MARY 
About​ ​the​ ​English​ ​boys​ ​you’re​ ​talkin’.​ ​ ​And​ ​that’s​ ​exactly​ ​why​ ​the​ ​English 
boys​ ​I​ ​would​ ​never​ ​date.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​marryin’​ ​an​ ​Amish​ ​boy. 
 
KATHERINE 
Is​ ​there​ ​some​ ​special​ ​Amish​ ​boy​ ​you​ ​like?​ ​ ​You​ ​can​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​me​ ​about​ ​him. 
 
MARY 
I​ ​must​ ​go​ ​now​ ​out​ ​to​ ​Levi​ ​to​ ​see​ ​if​ ​help​ ​he​ ​needs​ ​at​ ​the​ ​produce​ ​stand. 
 
(Mary​ ​exits.) 
 41 
 
KATHERINE 
Ah,​ ​Mary.​ ​ ​Mary…. 
 
(Lights​ ​down​ ​on​ ​kitchen.​ ​ ​Lights​ ​up​ ​on​ ​Levi​ ​and​ ​Mary​ ​at 
the​ ​produce​ ​stand.) 
 
MARY 
Did​ ​something​ ​good​ ​fer​ ​supper​ ​Sarah​ ​Miller​ ​bring? 
 
LEVI 
Smelled​ ​like​ ​one​ ​of​ ​her​ ​chicken​ ​pies. 
 
MARY 
What​ ​would​ ​we​ ​do​ ​without​ ​Sarah​ ​Miller?​ ​ ​Eat​ ​rainbow​ ​noodles?​ ​ ​Roil​ ​up 
our​ ​intestines​ ​and​ ​beat​ ​a​ ​crowded​ ​path​ ​to​ ​the​ ​outhouse.​ ​ ​Runnin’​ ​in,​ ​I’d 
bump​ ​into​ ​you​ ​comin’​ ​out. 
 
LEVI 
Mary!   
 
Have​ ​you​ ​seen​ ​Papa​ ​today​ ​already​ ​yet? 
 
MARY 
I​ ​saw​ ​him​ ​away​ ​down​ ​in​ ​the​ ​field.​ ​ ​Not​ ​yet​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​to. 
 
LEVI 
Papa​ ​told​ ​me​ ​Moses​ ​Beachy​ ​was​ ​a​ ​homosexual! 
 
(Mary​ ​ponders​ ​this​ ​a​ ​moment​ ​and​ ​suddenly​ ​finds​ ​it​ ​to 
be​ ​hysterical.) 
 
MARY 
Levi!​ ​ ​No!​ ​ ​He​ ​doesn’t​ ​think...?​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​Lord​ ​help​ ​us.​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​Levi! 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​told​ ​him​ ​just​ ​because​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​marry​ ​Becky​ ​Bontrager​ ​doesn’t 
make​ ​me​ ​abomination. 
 
MARY 
Becky’s​ ​the​ ​abomination! 
 
(They​ ​both​ ​guffaw.)  
 
LEVI 
 42 
Shhhh.​ ​ ​He’ll​ ​hear. 
 
MARY 
He’s​ ​way​ ​down​ ​in​ ​the​ ​field.​ ​ ​He​ ​can’t​ ​hear​ ​us. 
 
(Mary​ ​finds​ ​the​ ​lipstick​ ​and​ ​picks​ ​it​ ​up.) 
 
What’s​ ​this? 
 
LEVI 
Lip​ ​paint​ ​from​ ​that​ ​Englisher​ ​who​ ​took​ ​my​ ​picture​ ​this​ ​morning. 
 
MARY 
Why​ ​do​ ​the​ ​English​ ​think​ ​we’re​ ​the​ ​ones​ ​who​ ​dress​ ​funny?​ ​ ​When​ ​they’re 
the​ ​ones​ ​who​ ​look​ ​so​ ​ridiculous. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​don’t​ ​understand​ ​makeup.​ ​ ​It​ ​seems​ ​the​ ​woman​ ​is​ ​saying,​ ​“You​ ​can’t 
see​ ​my​ ​real​ ​face.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​too​ ​hideous.” 
 
MARY 
To​ ​be​ ​wicked​ ​just​ ​once​ ​I​ ​think​ ​it​ ​would​ ​be​ ​fun.​ ​ ​Paint​ ​up​ ​my​ ​face​ ​and 
sashay​ ​down​ ​the​ ​streets​ ​of​ ​Shipshewana​ ​and​ ​entangle​ ​men​ ​in​ ​my​ ​evil 
snare.​ ​ ​Like​ ​this​ ​morning,​ ​here​ ​comes​ ​that​ ​customer,​ ​that​ ​Englisher, 
paint​ ​all​ ​over​ ​her​ ​face​ ​like​ ​a​ ​clown. 
 
(She​ ​smears​ ​her​ ​lips​ ​garishly​ ​with​ ​the​ ​lipstick.​ ​ ​Levi 
laughs​ ​hysterically​ ​throughout​ ​Mary’s​ ​depiction​ ​of​ ​the 
customer.) 
 
And​ ​comin’​ ​in,​ ​her​ ​crownin’​ ​glory​ ​exposed​ ​fer​ ​everyone​ ​to​ ​see. 
 
(Mary​ ​removes​ ​her​ ​bonnet​ ​and​ ​roughs​ ​up​ ​her​ ​hair,​ ​so​ ​it 
stands​ ​around​ ​her​ ​head.) 
 
And​ ​her​ ​legs​ ​naked​ ​to​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​world. 
 
(She​ ​hikes​ ​up​ ​her​ ​skirt​ ​and​ ​sashays​ ​saucily​ ​around​ ​the 
stage.​ ​ ​Aaron​ ​enters.​ ​ ​Shocked,​ ​he​ ​stops​ ​to​ ​stare​ ​at​ ​her, 
not​ ​believing​ ​his​ ​eyes.) 
 
And​ ​makin’​ ​fun​ ​of​ ​us.​ ​ ​“Oh,​ ​my,​ ​you​ ​dress​ ​so​ ​quaint.​ ​ ​How​ ​odd​ ​you​ ​all 
live.​ ​ ​Why​ ​can’t​ ​you​ ​just​ ​use​ ​cars,​ ​like​ ​everyone​ ​else?” 
 
 43 
(She​ ​suddenly​ ​sees​ ​her​ ​papa.​ ​ ​Panicked,​ ​she​ ​covers​ ​her 
bare​ ​legs,​ ​covers​ ​her​ ​hair​ ​with​ ​her​ ​bonnet,​ ​and​ ​tries​ ​to 
hide​ ​the​ ​lipstick​ ​with​ ​her​ ​hand.) 
 
Papa!! 
 
AARON 
Mary!​ ​ ​What​ ​are​ ​you​ ​doin’?​ ​ ​What​ ​is​ ​that​ ​on​ ​your​ ​face? 
 
LEVI 
Papa,​ ​we​ ​were​ ​just​ ​funnin’.... 
 
AARON 
Quiet,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Mary,​ ​on​ ​your​ ​face​ ​what​ ​do​ ​you​ ​have? 
 
(Mary​ ​continues​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​cover​ ​the​ ​lipstick.​ ​ ​Aaron​ ​pulls 
her​ ​hand​ ​away.) 
 
What!​ ​ ​Lip​ ​paint?​ ​ ​On​ ​my​ ​daughter​?​ ​ ​Has​ ​the​ ​devil​ ​taken​ ​your​ ​soul? 
 
(Mary,​ ​scrubbing​ ​furiously​ ​at​ ​the​ ​lipstick,​ ​smears​ ​it​ ​all 
over​ ​her​ ​face.) 
 
LEVI 
No,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​In​ ​a​ ​sinnin’​ ​way​ ​she​ ​didn’t​ ​mean​ ​it.​ ​ ​We​ ​were​ ​just​ ​makin’​ ​fun 
of​ ​the​ ​English.... 
 
AARON 
Makin’​ ​fun​ ​of​ ​the​ ​English?​ ​ ​Why?​ ​ ​Because​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​like​ ​them, 
makin’​ ​fun​ ​of​ ​us?   
 
LEVI 
But​ ​no.​ ​ ​See,​ ​we​ ​were​ ​just​ ​funnin’​ ​together.​ ​ ​No.​ ​ ​It​ ​was​ ​my​ ​fault.... 
 
AARON 
I​ ​don’t​ ​see​ ​any​ ​paint​ ​on​ ​your​ ​face.​ ​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​see​ ​you​ ​hikin’​ ​up​ ​your​ ​trousers 
to​ ​show​ ​your​ ​legs.​ ​ ​I​ ​see​ ​this​ ​on​ ​Mary​ ​but​ ​not​ ​on​ ​you,​ ​so​ ​how​ ​could​ ​it​ ​be 
your​ ​fault? 
 
LEVI 
We​ ​just​ ​got​ ​to​ ​laughin’​ ​and​ ​lost​ ​control​ ​of​ ​ourselves.​ ​ ​We​ ​didn’t​ ​mean.... 
 
(Katherine,​ ​hearing​ ​the​ ​exchange,​ ​comes​ ​out​ ​onto​ ​the 
porch​ ​to​ ​listen.) 
 
 44 
AARON 
You​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​Amish,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​never​ ​lose​ ​control.​ ​ ​You​ ​must​ ​be​ ​an 
example​ ​of​ ​humility​ ​and​ ​Gelassenheit​ ​before​ ​the​ ​Lord. 
 
And​ ​Mary.​ ​ ​Tricks​ ​on​ ​me​ ​did​ ​my​ ​ears​ ​play?​ ​ ​Sarah​ ​Miller​ ​told​ ​me​ ​you 
were​ ​out​ ​ridin’​ ​Old​ ​Jake​ ​this​ ​morning. 
 
MARY 
Papa,​ ​I....​ ​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​mean.... 
 
AARON 
The​ ​answer​ ​to​ ​my​ ​question​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​two​ ​words,​ ​Mary.​ ​ ​We’re​ ​you​ ​ridin’ 
Old​ ​Jake?​ ​ ​Yah?​ ​ ​Or​ ​no? 
 
MARY 
Yah,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​Yah. 
 
AARON 
Paintin’​ ​your​ ​face.​ ​ ​Hikin’​ ​up​ ​your​ ​skirts.​ ​ ​Uncoverin’​ ​your​ ​crowning 
glory.​ ​ ​And​ ​astride​ ​a​ ​horse​ ​pleasure​ ​ridin’. 
 
MARY 
Old​ ​Jake​ ​is​ ​my​ ​friend.​ ​ ​We​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other. 
 
AARON 
Your​ ​Papa​ ​is​ ​the​ ​dopplehead​ ​do​ ​you​ ​think?​ ​ ​That​ ​you​ ​can​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​a 
horse? 
 
MARY 
Connected​ ​together​ ​Jake​ ​and​ ​I​ ​are​ ​somehow.​ ​ ​He​ ​was​ ​born​ ​out​ ​to​ ​the 
barn​ ​on​ ​the​ ​very​ ​same​ ​day​ ​I​ ​was​ ​born​ ​right​ ​here​ ​in​ ​the​ ​house. 
 
AARON 
Ridin’​ ​Old​ ​Jake​ ​is​ ​one​ ​thing​ ​that​ ​we​ ​could​ ​have​ ​talked​ ​about.​ ​ ​Because 
maybe​ ​you​ ​just​ ​needed​ ​straightenin’​ ​out​ ​your​ ​misunderstandin’.​ ​ ​But​ ​lip 
paint​ ​you​ ​know​ ​is​ ​a​ ​sin.​ ​ ​And​ ​hikin’​ ​up​ ​your​ ​skirts.​ ​ ​And​ ​sashayin’ 
around​ ​like​ ​a​ ​strumpet.​ ​ ​You​ ​know​ ​you​ ​must​ ​be​ ​punished.  
 
LEVI 
Please,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​We​ ​didn’t​ ​mean​ ​nothin’​ ​by​ ​it.​ ​ ​We​ ​were​ ​just​ ​funnin’.​ ​ ​We 
got​ ​to​ ​laughin’​ ​together​ ​and​ ​just​ ​forgot. 
 
AARON 
 45 
Levi.​ ​ ​Hush.​ ​ ​A​ ​papa​ ​one​ ​day​ ​you​ ​are​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be.​ ​ ​And​ ​to​ ​guide​ ​your 
family​ ​it​ ​will​ ​be​ ​up​ ​to​ ​you.​ ​ ​Watch​ ​me.​ ​ ​And​ ​learn​ ​what​ ​your​ ​job​ ​must​ ​be 
someday,​ ​too,​ ​yah? 
 
LEVI 
Yah,​ ​Papa. 
 
AARON 
You​ ​want​ ​Bishop​ ​Lapp​ ​to​ ​think​ ​your​ ​papa’s​ ​weak? 
 
LEVI 
No,​ ​Papa. 
 
AARON 
No.​ ​ ​And​ ​neither​ ​do​ ​I.​ ​ ​Mary,​ ​you​ ​are​ ​shunned.​ ​ ​Your​ ​meals​ ​you​ ​cannot 
take​ ​with​ ​us.​ ​ ​You​ ​cannot​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​us.​ ​ ​Not​ ​your​ ​family.​ ​ ​Not​ ​no​ ​one​ ​in 
the​ ​whole​ ​Amish​ ​community.​ ​ ​Nor​ ​the​ ​English.​ ​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​understand? 
 
MARY 
No,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​Please,​ ​no.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​humliatin’​ ​before​ ​everyone.​ ​ ​Fer​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​my 
life,​ ​they’ll​ ​point​ ​and​ ​say,​ ​“There​ ​goes​ ​that​ ​girl​ ​who​ ​fer​ ​paintin’​ ​her​ ​face 
was​ ​shunned.” 
 
AARON 
You​ ​should​ ​have​ ​thought​ ​of​ ​that! 
 
KATHERINE 
Aaron.​ ​ ​No.​ ​ ​Please. 
 
AARON 
This​ ​is​ ​between​ ​Mary​ ​and​ ​me. 
 
KATHERINE 
She’s​ ​my​ ​daughter.​ ​ ​Have​ ​I​ ​no​ ​say​ ​in​ ​how​ ​she​ ​is​ ​treated? 
 
AARON 
Look,​ ​Wife.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​not​ ​tryin’​ ​to​ ​hurt​ ​our​ ​daughter.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​her.   
 
Please,​ ​don’t​ ​make​ ​this​ ​harder. 
 
Mary,​ ​you​ ​are​ ​shunned! 
 
MARY 
Levi!​ ​ ​Have​ ​you​ ​no​ ​backbone.​ ​ ​Stand​ ​up​ ​fer​ ​me! 
 
 46 
LEVI 
Amos​ ​Byler​ ​runs​ ​free​ ​fer​ ​killin’​ ​a​ ​man.​ ​ ​And​ ​you​ ​punish​ ​Mary​ ​just​ ​fer 
funnin’?   
 
AARON 
Levi!​ ​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​shunned,​ ​too? 
 
LEVI 
No,​ ​Sir.​ ​ ​No,​ ​Papa. 
 
MARY 
How​ ​long,​ ​Papa? 
 
AARON 
No​ ​talkin’​ ​to​ ​anyone.​ ​ ​And​ ​no​ ​eatin’​ ​with​ ​us.​ ​ ​And​ ​Mary.​ ​ ​Stay​ ​away​ ​from 
Old​ ​Jake. 
 
MARY 
No,​ ​Papa!​ ​ ​No,​ ​please....​ ​ ​He​ ​will​ ​miss​ ​me​ ​so​ ​bad.​ ​ ​He’ll​ ​think​ ​I’m​ ​mad​ ​at 
him. 
 
KATHERINE 
She​ ​loves​ ​that​ ​horse.​ ​ ​Why​ ​is​ ​it​ ​wrong​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​about​ ​love,​ ​no​ ​matter​ ​how 
she​ ​learns​ ​it?​ ​ ​Shun​ ​her​ ​for​ ​the​ ​lipstick,​ ​if​ ​you​ ​must,​ ​but​ ​let​ ​her​ ​be​ ​with 
her​ ​horse. 
 
AARON 
Horses​ ​aren’t​ ​fer​ ​to​ ​pleasure​ ​people.​ ​ ​They’re​ ​to​ ​work​ ​the​ ​fields.  
 
KATHERINE 
But​ ​she’s​ ​just​ ​a​ ​girl.​ ​ ​She’ll​ ​be​ ​a​ ​woman​ ​soon,​ ​and​ ​what​ ​is​ ​there​ ​for 
Amish​ ​women?​ ​ ​Work​ ​from​ ​morning​ ​till​ ​night​ ​and​ ​no​ ​joy​ ​in​ ​her​ ​life. 
 
AARON 
No​ ​joy!​ ​ ​The​ ​joy​ ​of​ ​walking​ ​the​ ​plain​ ​path​ ​of​ ​God​ ​she​ ​has.​ ​Wife,​ ​if​ ​too 
hard​ ​this​ ​is​ ​fer​ ​you​ ​to​ ​see,​ ​then​ ​go​ ​into​ ​the​ ​house.​ ​ ​To​ ​hurt​ ​your​ ​heart​ ​I 
don’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​do.​ ​ ​I’ll​ ​be​ ​in​ ​soon​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​you. 
 
(​Katherine​ ​goes​ ​into​ ​the​ ​house.) 
 
MARY 
How​ ​long? 
 
AARON 
You​ ​are​ ​shunned​ ​fer​ ​four​ ​weeks!! 
 47 
 
MARY 
But​ ​see,​ ​no.​ ​ ​No,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​The​ ​Autumn​ ​Frolic​ ​is​ ​in​ ​two​ ​weeks.​ ​ ​I​ ​promised 
Samuel​ ​I​ ​would…. 
 
AARON 
What?​ ​ ​Promised​ ​Samuel?​ ​ ​You​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Bishop’s​ ​son? 
 
MARY 
I​ ​promised​ ​him​ ​I​ ​would​ ​be​ ​there. 
 
AARON 
You​ ​promised?​ ​ ​Well,​ ​then.​ ​ ​You​ ​must​ ​be​ ​there. 
 
MARY 
Thank​ ​you,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​Thank​ ​you. 
 
AARON 
You​ ​will​ ​be​ ​there,​ ​and​ ​everyone​ ​will​ ​know​ ​you​ ​are​ ​shunned.​ ​ ​You​ ​will 
attend​ ​the​ ​frolic.​ ​ ​But​ ​you​ ​will​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​no​ ​one.​ ​ ​And​ ​no​ ​one​ ​will​ ​speak​ ​to 
you. 
 
MARY 
No,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​Samuel​ ​can’t​ ​know​ ​this​ ​about​ ​me,​ ​that​ ​I​ ​tried​ ​on​ ​lip​ ​paint.​ ​ ​He 
will​ ​think​ ​I’m​ ​too​ ​vain… 
 
AARON 
Mary,​ ​you​ ​are​ ​shunned! 
 
(Mary​ ​acquiesces​ ​by​ ​bowing.​ ​ ​She​ ​picks​ ​up​ ​a​ ​cloth​ ​from 
the​ ​produce​ ​stand​ ​and​ ​scrubs​ ​her​ ​face.​ ​ ​She​ ​begins 
arranging​ ​vegetables. 
 
AARON 
No​ ​speaking​ ​to​ ​your​ ​sister,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Not​ ​one​ ​word.​ ​ ​Now​ ​rid​ ​that​ ​frown​ ​from 
off​ ​your​ ​face.  
 
(Lights​ ​up​ ​on​ ​kitchen​ ​and​ ​Katherine.​ ​ ​Aaron​ ​enters.) 
 
AARON 
Katherine.​ ​ ​Love.​ ​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​hurt​ ​you.​ ​ ​Please,​ ​when​ ​I​ ​must 
discipline​ ​our​ ​children,​ ​don’t​ ​watch.​ ​ ​Your​ ​love​ ​fer​ ​me​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be 
weakened.​ ​ ​I​ ​couldn’t​ ​bear​ ​that. 
 
KATHERINE 
 48 
You​ ​seem​ ​so​ ​harsh​ ​with​ ​her. 
 
AARON 
Harsh?​ ​ ​You​ ​think​ ​instead​ ​I​ ​should​ ​beat​ ​the​ ​worldliness​ ​out​ ​of​ ​her? 
 
KATHERINE 
Oh,​ ​no.​ ​ ​No. 
 
AARON 
This​ ​is​ ​how​ ​we​ ​teach​ ​our​ ​children.​ ​ ​Some​ ​English​ ​hit​ ​their​ ​children. 
Sometimes​ ​right​ ​out​ ​in​ ​public.​ ​ ​At​ ​the​ ​livestock​ ​auction​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​this.​ ​ ​It 
embarrassed​ ​me. 
 
KATHERINE 
My​ ​parents​ ​used​ ​to​ ​hit​ ​me. 
 
AARON 
How​ ​did​ ​that​ ​make​ ​you​ ​feel? 
 
KATHERINE 
Like​ ​they​ ​didn’t​ ​value​ ​me​ ​very​ ​much. 
 
AARON 
Mary​ ​I​ ​value​ ​huge​ ​in​ ​my​ ​heart.​ ​ ​Enough​ ​to​ ​hurt​ ​inside​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​her​ ​the 
plain​ ​path. 
 
KATHERINE 
But​ ​the​ ​Autumn​ ​Frolic.​ ​ ​To​ ​be​ ​embarrassed​ ​like​ ​that​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​Bishop 
Lapp. 
 
AARON 
The​ ​bishop’s​ ​son.​ ​ ​Samuel​ ​Lapp.​ ​ ​And​ ​Mary.​ ​ ​A​ ​thing​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​know​ ​about. 
 
KATHERINE 
Maybe​ ​his​ ​son​ ​won’t​ ​be​ ​so​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​our​ ​daughter​ ​if​ ​he​ ​sees​ ​her​ ​being 
punished. 
 
AARON 
Yah.​ ​ ​That​ ​is​ ​something​ ​I​ ​must​ ​think​ ​about,​ ​yah? 
 
KATHERINE 
All​ ​this​ ​drama​ ​over​ ​lipstick.​ ​ ​I​ ​was​ ​wearing​ ​lipstick​ ​the​ ​day​ ​we​ ​met. 
 
AARON 
And​ ​so​ ​much​ ​cleaner​ ​and​ ​worthy​ ​of​ ​God​ ​you​ ​look​ ​without​ ​it. 
 49 
 
KATHERINE 
She’s​ ​just​ ​a​ ​girl. 
 
AARON 
And​ ​that’s​ ​why​ ​right​ ​from​ ​wrong​ ​I​ ​must​ ​teach​ ​her.​ ​ ​The​ ​elders,​ ​the 
bishop,​ ​a​ ​big​ ​concession​ ​they​ ​made,​ ​allowing​ ​us​ ​to​ ​be​ ​married.​ ​ ​I​ ​must 
constantly​ ​prove​ ​to​ ​them​ ​I​ ​am​ ​a​ ​good​ ​Papa​ ​and​ ​worthy​ ​of​ ​being​ ​Amish. 
 
And​ ​now​ ​Levi​ ​is​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​taking​ ​his​ ​rumspringa.​ ​ ​It​ ​scares​ ​me​ ​so, 
that​ ​he​ ​might​ ​succumb​ ​to​ ​temptation​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world​ ​and​ ​not​ ​come 
back. 
 
KATHERINE 
You​ ​succumbed​ ​to​ ​temptation​ ​on​ ​your​ ​rumspringa.​ ​ ​We​ ​did. 
 
AARON 
Yah,​ ​but​ ​we​ ​made​ ​it​ ​good​ ​in​ ​the​ ​eyes​ ​of​ ​God.​ ​ ​Not​ ​everyone​ ​does​ ​that 
though.​ ​ ​Lost​ ​forever​ ​some​ ​people​ ​are.​ ​ ​I​ ​couldn’t​ ​abide​ ​it​ ​if​ ​we​ ​lost​ ​Levi. 
 
I​ ​hate​ ​this​ ​part,​ ​Katherine.​ ​ ​My​ ​children​ ​feel​ ​hurt​ ​by​ ​my​ ​actions.​ ​ ​But​ ​I 
must​ ​do​ ​all​ ​I​ ​can​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​them​ ​on​ ​the​ ​plain​ ​path. 
 
KATHERINE 
Are​ ​these​ ​tears​ ​on​ ​your​ ​cheek? 
 
AARON 
I​ ​can’t​ ​let​ ​the​ ​children​ ​see​ ​my​ ​weakness. 
 
KATHERINE 
Tears​ ​don’t​ ​show​ ​weakness.​ ​ ​They​ ​show​ ​love. 
 
AARON 
I​ ​must​ ​protect​ ​them​ ​from​ ​the​ ​sin​ ​growing​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world.​ ​ ​This​ ​life​ ​is​ ​a 
grain​ ​of​ ​sand​ ​compared​ ​to​ ​eternity. 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​know​ ​you​ ​mean​ ​well​ ​by​ ​us,​ ​Aaron. 
 
AARON 
Every​ ​year,​ ​more​ ​and​ ​more​ ​Amish​ ​kids​ ​leave​ ​to​ ​go​ ​out​ ​into​ ​the​ ​world. 
Never​ ​to​ ​return. 
 
I​ ​encouraged​ ​Levi​ ​to​ ​go​ ​see​ ​Becky​ ​Bontrager.​ ​ ​Have​ ​a​ ​bundle​ ​date​ ​with 
her. 
 50 
 
KATHERINE 
You​ ​punish​ ​your​ ​daughter​ ​for​ ​wearing​ ​lipstick,​ ​yet​ ​you​ ​encourage​ ​your 
son​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​bed​ ​date​ ​with​ ​a​ ​girl? 
 
AARON 
If​ ​he​ ​gets​ ​taken​ ​with​ ​an​ ​Amish​ ​girl,​ ​then​ ​Amish​ ​he’ll​ ​remain.​ ​ ​And​ ​so​ ​will 
Becky.​ ​ ​Both​ ​of​ ​them​ ​win,​ ​and​ ​her​ ​parents​ ​and​ ​us,​ ​too. 
 
KATHERINE 
I’ll​ ​bet​ ​a​ ​hot​ ​Amish​ ​lad​ ​like​ ​you​ ​had​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​bundle​ ​dates​ ​in​ ​your​ ​day. 
 
AARON 
Ain’t​ ​none​ ​of​ ​‘em​ ​as​ ​good​ ​as​ ​a​ ​haystack​ ​date​ ​with​ ​a​ ​wild​ ​English​ ​woman. 
 
KATHERINE 
Husband. 
 
(Aaron​ ​hugs​ ​her.) 
 
AARON 
Ah,​ ​Katherine. 
 
(Lights​ ​down​ ​in​ ​kitchen.​ ​ ​Lights​ ​up​ ​on​ ​produce​ ​stand. 
Mark​ ​enters,​ ​excited.​ ​Levi​ ​is​ ​initially​ ​stand-offish.) 
 
MARK 
Hey,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Look.​ ​ ​I​ ​couldn’t​ ​wait​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​you.​ ​ ​I​ ​talked​ ​to​ ​Tim.​ ​ ​About​ ​you 
maybe​ ​comin’​ ​to​ ​New​ ​York​ ​with​ ​us.​ ​ ​He’s​ ​excited​ ​about​ ​something​ ​he 
found​ ​on​ ​the​ ​Internet.​ ​ ​Something​ ​great​ ​to​ ​show​ ​you. 
 
Oh,​ ​hi,​ ​Mary.​ ​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​see​ ​you​ ​there. 
 
(Mary,​ ​keeping​ ​her​ ​head​ ​down,​ ​rushes​ ​off​ ​toward​ ​the 
back​ ​of​ ​the​ ​house.) 
 
Did​ ​I​ ​say​ ​something​ ​wrong? 
 
LEVI 
To​ ​you​ ​she​ ​cannot​ ​speak.​ ​ ​Nor​ ​anyone.​ ​ ​She’s​ ​shunned. 
 
MARK 
Shunned!​ ​ ​She​ ​has​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​your​ ​house​ ​and​ ​your​ ​order...? 
 
LEVI 
 51 
No.​ ​ ​Only​ ​the​ ​bishop​ ​can​ ​shun​ ​someone​ ​forever​ ​from​ ​the​ ​order.​ ​ ​No. 
Papa​ ​just​ ​uses​ ​shunning​ ​to​ ​punish​ ​us.​ ​ ​Like​ ​the​ ​English​ ​sometimes​ ​hit 
their​ ​children​ ​only​ ​he​ ​doesn’t​ ​hit​ ​us. 
 
MARK 
Oh.​ ​ ​Like​ ​a​ ​time​ ​out.​ ​ ​For​ ​how​ ​long? 
 
LEVI 
Fer​ ​four​ ​weeks​ ​she​ ​can’t​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​no​ ​one.​ ​ ​And​ ​can’t​ ​take​ ​meals​ ​with​ ​us. 
 
MARK 
Not​ ​speak​ ​for​ ​four​ ​weeks!​ ​ ​But​ ​what​ ​did​ ​she​ ​do? 
 
LEVI 
This​ ​is​ ​Amish​ ​business.​ ​ ​Not​ ​fer​ ​the​ ​English. 
 
MARK. 
Oh,​ ​gosh.​ ​ ​You’re​ ​right.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​so​ ​sorry.​ ​ ​I​ ​apologize. 
 
(Levi​ ​doesn’t​ ​answer​ ​or​ ​look​ ​at​ ​Mark.​ ​ ​He​ ​busies​ ​himself 
with​ ​his​ ​vegetables.) 
 
Levi,​ ​is​ ​something​ ​wrong? 
 
LEVI 
No. 
 
(But​ ​there​ ​is.) 
 
MARK 
You​ ​know​ ​how​ ​we​ ​were​ ​taking​ ​about​ ​theater,​ ​and​ ​you​ ​were​ ​so​ ​excited. 
Well,​ ​I​ ​spoke​ ​to​ ​my​ ​partner.... 
 
(No​ ​response.) 
 
Levi,​ ​what’s​ ​the​ ​matter?   
 
(No​ ​response.) 
 
Look,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​we​ ​were​ ​friends.​ ​ ​I​ ​always​ ​enjoy​ ​talking​ ​to​ ​you,​ ​out 
here​ ​and​ ​in​ ​Shipshewana. 
 
LEVI 
At​ ​your​ ​bed​ ​and​ ​breakfast.​ ​ ​You​ ​and​ ​your​ ​partner?​ ​ ​And​ ​you​ ​and​ ​your 
partner​ ​are​ ​going​ ​to​ ​New​ ​York? 
 52 
 
MARK 
Well...​ ​ ​Yes,​ ​sure. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​mean​ ​business​ ​partner,​ ​do​ ​you?​ ​ ​You’re​ ​homosexual.   
 
MARK 
Well,​ ​sure.... 
 
LEVI 
“Well,​ ​sure.”​ ​ ​Just​ ​like​ ​that. 
 
MARK 
Sorry.​ ​ ​I​ ​can​ ​do​ ​a​ ​more-dramatic​ ​reading​ ​if​ ​you’d​ ​like 
 
(Over-the-top.) 
 
“Oh,​ ​yes,​ ​Big​ ​Daddy.​ ​ ​I​ ​am...that​ ​which​ ​cannot​ ​speak​ ​its​ ​name.​ ​ ​I​ ​am, 
gasp,​ ​HOMOSEXUAL.”   
 
(He​ ​buries​ ​his​ ​hands​ ​and​ ​sobs​ ​crocodile​ ​tears.) 
 
LEVI 
What…? 
 
MARK 
Tennessee​ ​Williams.​ ​ ​Keep​ ​reading​ ​plays,​ ​and​ ​you’ll​ ​run​ ​into​ ​him. 
 
LEVI 
Out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​open​ ​you​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​this? 
 
MARK 
Sorry,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​new​ ​world. 
 
LEVI 
It’s​ ​never​ ​a​ ​new​ ​world​ ​fer​ ​me.​ ​ ​That’s​ ​the​ ​point​ ​of​ ​being​ ​Amish. 
 
MARK 
You’re​ ​always​ ​telling​ ​me​ ​about​ ​the​ ​awful​ ​things​ ​the​ ​English​ ​think​ ​about 
the​ ​Amish. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​wish​ ​I​ ​could​ ​write​ ​a​ ​play​ ​and​ ​make​ ​them​ ​see​ ​what​ ​they​ ​think​ ​of​ ​us​ ​is 
ridiculous! 
 53 
 
MARK 
The​ ​things​ ​people​ ​get​ ​in​ ​their​ ​mind​ ​about​ ​other​ ​people​ ​are​ ​horrible. 
That’s​ ​why​ ​I’ve​ ​enjoyed​ ​our​ ​friendship.​ ​ ​So​ ​I​ ​can​ ​learn​ ​more​ ​about​ ​your 
people. 
 
Here’s​ ​your​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​learn​ ​more​ ​about​ ​me. 
 
You​ ​call​ ​me​ ​abomination​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Bible. 
 
LEVI 
Leviticus. 
 
MARK 
Yes,​ ​Leviticus,​ ​where​ ​it​ ​tells​ ​us​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​slaves​ ​and​ ​make​ ​human 
sacrifices​ ​and​ ​stone​ ​disobedient​ ​children.​ ​ ​Didn’t​ ​you​ ​ever​ ​wonder​ ​about 
that? 
 
LEVI 
Papa​ ​says,​ ​to​ ​question​ ​God’s​ ​word​ ​is​ ​not​ ​my​ ​place. 
 
MARK 
Look,​ ​Levi,​ ​I​ ​want​ ​the​ ​same​ ​things​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​community​ ​wants.​ ​ ​To​ ​live 
life​ ​the​ ​best​ ​way​ ​I​ ​know​ ​how,​ ​without​ ​bigots​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​hurt​ ​me​ ​or​ ​the 
people​ ​I​ ​love. 
 
(Levi​ ​ponders​ ​this​ ​a​ ​moment.​ ​ ​Then​ ​he​ ​laughs.) 
 
LEVI 
Who​ ​would​ ​of​ ​thought​ ​homosexuals​ ​and​ ​Amish​ ​people​ ​want​ ​the​ ​same 
things? 
 
MARK 
All​ ​people​ ​want​ ​the​ ​same​ ​thing.​ ​ ​To​ ​live​ ​our​ ​lives​ ​in​ ​peace. 
 
Look,​ ​maybe​ ​this​ ​isn’t​ ​a​ ​good​ ​time.​ ​ ​You​ ​seem​ ​upset. 
 
LEVI 
Should​ ​I​ ​be​ ​a​ ​papa​ ​someday,​ ​at​ ​my​ ​child’s​ ​heart​ ​I’d​ ​look.​ ​ ​And​ ​if​ ​there’s 
no​ ​sin,​ ​then​ ​why​ ​shun​ ​her? 
 
MARK 
Well,​ ​it​ ​has​ ​to​ ​be​ ​so​ ​hard​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​do​ ​right​ ​with​ ​all​ ​the​ ​temptations.​ ​ ​The 
Internet,​ ​telephones.... 
 
 54 
LEVI 
Yah.​ ​ ​And​ ​theater! 
 
MARK 
You​ ​can​ ​go​ ​with​ ​us,​ ​you​ ​know?​ ​ ​Two​ ​weeks.​ ​ ​See​ ​a​ ​bunch​ ​of​ ​shows.​ ​ ​And 
that​ ​special​ ​thing​ ​Tim​ ​found​ ​to​ ​show​ ​you. 
 
LEVI 
What​ ​thing?​ ​ ​Tell​ ​me. 
 
MARK 
Can’t.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​surprise. 
LEVI 
This​ ​year’s​ ​the​ ​last​ ​I​ ​can​ ​go​ ​on​ ​rumspringa. 
 
MARK 
What​ ​is​ ​“rumspringa?” 
 
LEVI 
My​ ​runnin’-around​ ​time,​ ​fer​ ​me​ ​to​ ​see​ ​the​ ​world.​ ​ ​To​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​the 
Amishman​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be.​ ​ ​Then​ ​by​ ​twenty​ ​years​ ​old,​ ​I​ ​got​ ​to​ ​be​ ​baptized 
and​ ​join​ ​the​ ​order. 
 
MARK 
So​ ​it’s​ ​your​ ​last​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​see​ ​plays? 
 
LEVI 
See​ ​plays.​ ​ ​Real​ ​plays?​ ​ ​In​ ​real​ ​theaters!   
 
MARK 
But​ ​do​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​leave​ ​your​ ​sister​ ​here​ ​alone​ ​when​ ​she’s​ ​being 
shunned? 
 
LEVI 
If​ ​I​ ​should​ ​stay​ ​here,​ ​how​ ​could​ ​I​ ​not​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​her?​ ​ ​We​ ​chatter​ ​all​ ​the 
time,​ ​when​ ​we’re​ ​workin’,​ ​when​ ​we’re​ ​eatin’.   
 
MARK 
Well,​ ​think​ ​about​ ​it.​ ​ ​Only​ ​think​ ​fast.​ ​ ​We​ ​leave​ ​tomorrow​ ​morning. 
 
LEVI 
Away​ ​from​ ​Papa​ ​I​ ​think​ ​I​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​right​ ​now. 
 
Only​ ​the​ ​clothes​ ​to​ ​wear​ ​around​ ​the​ ​English​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​have. 
 
 55 
MARK 
You’re​ ​about​ ​the​ ​same​ ​size​ ​as​ ​Tim.​ ​ ​We’ll​ ​take​ ​care​ ​of​ ​you. 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​in​ ​a​ ​restaurant​ ​I​ ​never​ ​ate.​ ​ ​Or​ ​stayed​ ​in​ ​a​ ​hotel.​ ​ ​Or​ ​used​ ​inside 
plumbing. 
 
MARK 
We’ll​ ​be​ ​there​ ​to​ ​answer​ ​all​ ​your​ ​questions. 
 
LEVI 
Only​ ​my​ ​own​ ​hotel​ ​room​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​in​ ​I’d​ ​want.  
 
MARK 
Well,​ ​of​ ​course.​ ​ ​Wouldn’t​ ​have​ ​it​ ​any​ ​other​ ​way. 
 
LEVI 
Fer​ ​to​ ​pay​ ​my​ ​own​ ​way​ ​I​ ​got​ ​the​ ​money.  
 
MARK 
You​ ​sure?​ ​ ​‘Cause​ ​we’ll​ ​be​ ​glad​ ​to​ ​help. 
 
LEVI 
No.​ ​ ​I​ ​saved​ ​a​ ​lot.​ ​ ​See,​ ​the​ ​orchard​ ​Papa​ ​gave​ ​me​ ​when​ ​I​ ​was​ ​twelve. 
Said,​ ​“Here,​ ​Son.​ ​ ​You​ ​make​ ​money​ ​from​ ​this​ ​however​ ​you​ ​can.” 
 
So​ ​fer​ ​all​ ​these​ ​years,​ ​I​ ​been​ ​sellin’​ ​apples.​ ​ ​And​ ​seedlings.​ ​ ​And 
apple-blossom​ ​honey.​ ​ ​And​ ​firewood​ ​if​ ​an​ ​apple​ ​tree​ ​gets​ ​too​ ​old. 
 
MARK 
New​ ​York​ ​is​ ​expensive. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​got​ ​money.​ ​ ​Enough​ ​to​ ​start​ ​my​ ​family​ ​when​ ​it’s​ ​time. 
 
And​ ​you’ll​ ​tell​ ​me​ ​what​ ​to​ ​do?​ ​ ​So​ ​among​ ​the​ ​English​ ​I​ ​won’t​ ​look​ ​so 
foolish? 
 
MARK 
Sure,​ ​Kid.​ ​ ​It’ll​ ​be​ ​fun​ ​to​ ​show​ ​you​ ​the​ ​ropes​ ​in​ ​New​ ​York.​ ​ ​And​ ​show​ ​you 
some​ ​great​ ​theater. 
 
LEVI 
Plays!​ ​ ​I​ ​get​ ​to​ ​see​ ​plays! 
 
 56 
MARK 
Sometimes​ ​two​ ​a​ ​day.​ ​ ​You’ll​ ​come​ ​home​ ​either​ ​loving​ ​theater​ ​or​ ​hating 
it. 
 
LEVI 
Can​ ​we​ ​go​ ​to​ ​a​ ​church​ ​in​ ​New​ ​York? 
 
MARK 
Uh,​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​Amish​ ​churches​ ​in​ ​New​ ​York​ ​City. 
 
LEVI 
No.​ ​ ​No,​ ​I​ ​know.​ ​ ​I​ ​mean​ ​other​ ​churches.​ ​ ​Maybe​ ​Catholic.​ ​ ​Or​ ​a 
synagogue. 
 
MARK 
Why​ ​would​ ​you…? 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​do​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​reading.​ ​ ​About​ ​different​ ​things.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​just​ ​curious​ ​about​ ​what 
other​ ​people​ ​believe. 
 
MARK 
We​ ​could​ ​go​ ​to​ ​St.​ ​Patrick’s.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​beautiful. 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​if​ ​I​ ​go,​ ​Papa​ ​must​ ​never​ ​know​ ​this.​ ​ ​He​ ​forbid​ ​me​ ​from​ ​plays​ ​and 
havin’​ ​you​ ​as​ ​a​ ​friend.​ ​ ​And​ ​on​ ​rumspringa​ ​we​ ​don’t​ ​hafta​ ​ask​ ​what​ ​we 
can​ ​and​ ​can’t​ ​do​ ​even. 
 
MARK 
I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​about​ ​goin’​ ​against​ ​your​ ​Papa. 
 
LEVI 
On​ ​their​ ​rumspringa​ ​some​ ​Amish​ ​kids​ ​come​ ​back​ ​home​ ​addicted​ ​to 
drugs.​ ​ ​Or​ ​alcohol.​ ​ ​Or​ ​with​ ​some​ ​disease.​ ​ ​Or​ ​they​ ​end​ ​up​ ​in​ ​prison. 
 
But​ ​instead​ ​something​ ​good​ ​I​ ​want,​ ​that​ ​will​ ​make​ ​me​ ​understand​ ​the 
world​ ​in​ ​a​ ​bigger​ ​way. 
 
Oh,​ ​I​ ​just​ ​don’t​ ​know.​ ​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​best​ ​Amishman​ ​I​ ​know​ ​how.​ ​ ​To 
lead​ ​my​ ​family​ ​on​ ​the​ ​plain​ ​path.​ ​ ​Maybe​ ​seeing​ ​the​ ​plays​ ​is​ ​the​ ​wrong 
thing​ ​fer​ ​me​ ​to​ ​do. 
 
MARK 
Really,​ ​I​ ​understand​ ​if​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​go​ ​against​ ​your​ ​Papa. 
 57 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​Papa​ ​isn’t​ ​always​ ​right.​ ​ ​What​ ​he​ ​did​ ​to​ ​Mary​ ​is​ ​wrong.​ ​ ​She​ ​was​ ​just 
funnin’.​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​she​ ​was​ ​so​ ​comical.​ ​ ​Like​ ​in​ ​a​ ​play.​ ​ ​But​ ​he​ ​wouldn’t​ ​listen. 
 
Stubborn,​ ​he​ ​is.​ ​ ​So​ ​why​ ​should​ ​I​ ​listen​ ​to​ ​him? 
 
And​ ​Mary​ ​says​ ​I​ ​have​ ​no​ ​backbone.​ ​ ​That​ ​against​ ​him​ ​I’d​ ​never​ ​go. 
When​ ​I​ ​come​ ​back,​ ​I’ll​ ​have​ ​a​ ​thing​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​her.​ ​ ​About​ ​my​ ​backbone,​ ​she 
won’t​ ​hardly​ ​believe​ ​then! 
 
He​ ​can’t​ ​tell​ ​me​ ​what​ ​to​ ​do​ ​forever.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​growin’​ ​up! 
 
Yah.​ ​ ​Yah,​ ​I’ll​ ​do​ ​it.​ ​ ​I’ll​ ​go. 
 
Besides,​ ​we’re​ ​just​ ​gonna​ ​have​ ​fun.​ ​ ​What​ ​could​ ​go​ ​wrong? 
 
(Curtain.​ ​ ​End​ ​Act​ ​I.) 
 
   
 58 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ACT​ ​II 
 
 59 
ACT​ ​II,​ ​SCENE​ ​I 
 
(Early​ ​evening.​ ​ ​Lights​ ​up​ ​on​ ​the​ ​stand​ ​and​ ​Sarah 
Miller.​ ​ ​Levi​ ​and​ ​Mark​ ​walk​ ​up​ ​to​ ​the​ ​stand.​ ​ ​Mark 
begins​ ​picking​ ​out​ ​vegetables.) 
 
LEVI 
Sarah​ ​Miller!​ ​ ​What​ ​are​ ​you​ ​doin’​ ​here?​ ​ ​Is​ ​everyone​ ​OK​ ​to​ ​home? 
 
SARAH 
Oh,​ ​Levi!​ ​ ​You​ ​back​ ​home​ ​from​ ​rumspringa?​ ​ ​Who’s​ ​that​ ​you​ ​ridin’​ ​in​ ​a 
car​ ​with? 
 
LEVI 
A​ ​customer​ ​gave​ ​me​ ​a​ ​ride​ ​from​ ​Shipshewana​ ​to​ ​buy​ ​produce.​ ​ ​Where’s 
everyone​ ​at? 
 
SARAH 
I​ ​been​ ​comin’​ ​over​ ​to​ ​see​ ​to​ ​the​ ​produce​ ​stand.​ ​ ​Mary​ ​is​ ​still​ ​shunned​ ​fer 
two​ ​more​ ​weeks.​ ​ ​Und​ ​your​ ​mutter,​ ​she’s​ ​so​ ​busy.​ ​ ​Und​ ​your​ ​papa​ ​got​ ​to 
see​ ​to​ ​the​ ​farmin’.​ ​ ​So​ ​your​ ​vegetables​ ​I​ ​been​ ​sellin’. 
 
LEVI 
Is​ ​Papa​ ​still​ ​at​ ​the​ ​livestock​ ​auction​ ​in​ ​Shipshewana? 
 
SARAH 
He’ll​ ​be​ ​there​ ​all​ ​day,​ ​just​ ​like​ ​every​ ​Wednesday.​ ​ ​So​ ​what’d​ ​you​ ​do​ ​on 
your​ ​rumspringa?   
 
LEVI 
A​ ​young​ ​Amishman​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​ask​ ​what​ ​he​ ​did​ ​on​ ​his​ ​rumspringa!​ ​ ​You 
might​ ​be​ ​scandalized. 
 
SARAH 
Oh,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​sorry.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​just​ ​like​ ​my​ ​own​ ​son,​ ​you​ ​are. 
 
LEVI 
It’s​ ​good​ ​to​ ​be​ ​home,​ ​to​ ​smell​ ​the​ ​hay​ ​and​ ​see​ ​the​ ​horses. 
 
SARAH 
Did​ ​I​ ​see​ ​you​ ​in​ ​Shipshewana​ ​get​ ​in​ ​that​ ​car,​ ​too,​ ​to​ ​go​ ​on​ ​your 
rumspringa? 
 
LEVI 
 60 
Must​ ​of​ ​been​ ​someone​ ​else​ ​you​ ​saw​ ​looked​ ​like​ ​me.​ ​ ​You​ ​go​ ​on​ ​home 
now,​ ​afore​ ​the​ ​dark​ ​comes.​ ​ ​The​ ​produce​ ​stand​ ​I’ll​ ​close​ ​up.​ ​ ​And​ ​thank 
you​ ​so​ ​much​ ​fer​ ​seein’​ ​after​ ​things​ ​here.​ ​ ​Without​ ​you,​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​what 
we’d​ ​do. 
 
SARAH 
Thank​ ​you,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​You’re​ ​a​ ​good​ ​boy.​ ​ ​Welcome​ ​home. 
 
(She​ ​exits.) 
 
MARK 
She’s​ ​certainly​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​your​ ​life! 
 
LEVI 
We​ ​call​ ​her​ ​“the​ ​Amish​ ​radio.”​ ​ ​Broadcasting​ ​news​ ​from​ ​farm​ ​to​ ​farm.   
 
Take​ ​what​ ​you​ ​want,​ ​Mark,​ ​before​ ​I​ ​close​ ​up​ ​the​ ​stand.​ ​ ​You​ ​and​ ​Tim, 
such​ ​a​ ​good​ ​time​ ​you​ ​gave​ ​me.​ ​ ​I’ll​ ​never​ ​forget​ ​it. 
 
MARK 
It​ ​was​ ​so​ ​fun​ ​showing​ ​you​ ​New​ ​York​ ​and​ ​shows.... 
 
LEVI 
...and​ ​restaurants​ ​and​ ​hotels​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Statue​ ​of​ ​Liberty....​ ​ ​Oh!​ ​ ​And 
rainbow​ ​flags.​ ​ ​And​ ​“Embrace​ ​Diversity!”   
 
MARK 
So​ ​what​ ​was​ ​your​ ​favorite​ ​show? 
 
LEVI 
All​ ​of​ ​‘em.​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​those​ ​actors​ ​were​ ​so​ ​bold!​ ​ ​Struttin’​ ​around​ ​up​ ​there, 
their​ ​chests​ ​stuck​ ​out,​ ​sayin’,​ ​“Look​ ​at​ ​me!” 
 
MARK 
Thank​ ​you​ ​so​ ​much​ ​for​ ​sharing​ ​this​ ​time​ ​with​ ​us.​ ​ ​I​ ​feel​ ​like​ ​I​ ​have​ ​a​ ​new 
little​ ​brother. 
 
(Mark​ ​hugs​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Gary​ ​Smith​ ​enters​ ​walking​ ​down​ ​the 
road​ ​and​ ​sees​ ​them.) 
 
GARY 
What​ ​the​ ​hell....?​ ​ ​That​ ​faggot​ ​from​ ​Shipshewana​ ​and​ ​Levi?​ ​ ​Huggin’​ ​like 
a​ ​coupla​ ​boyfriends.  
 
(​Levi​ ​pulls​ ​away​ ​from​ ​Mark.) 
 61 
 
You​ ​two​ ​been​ ​stupsen​ ​in​ ​your​ ​Papa’s​ ​hayloft? 
 
MARK 
What’s​ ​his​ ​name,​ ​Levi?​ ​ ​So​ ​I​ ​can​ ​tell​ ​the​ ​sheriff.​ ​ ​Get​ ​him​ ​off​ ​the​ ​streets 
and​ ​away​ ​from​ ​normal​ ​people. 
 
GARY 
Normal​ ​people?​ ​ ​Like​ ​you?​ ​ ​Hah! 
 
LEVI 
Calls​ ​himself​ ​Gary​ ​Smith​ ​now.​ ​ ​Used​ ​to​ ​be​ ​Amos​ ​Byler. 
 
MARK 
So​ ​Gary.​ ​ ​Or​ ​Amos.​ ​ ​Why​ ​do​ ​you​ ​come​ ​by​ ​my​ ​bed​ ​and​ ​breakfast​ ​all​ ​the 
time​ ​and​ ​scream​ ​at​ ​me?​ ​ ​And​ ​my​ ​customers? 
 
GARY 
Because​ ​you’re​ ​abomination. 
 
MARK 
Look,​ ​the​ ​world’s​ ​full​ ​of​ ​people​ ​you’re​ ​never​ ​gonna​ ​agree​ ​with.​ ​ ​That 
doesn’t​ ​mean​ ​you​ ​have​ ​to​ ​harass​ ​us.​ ​ ​Just​ ​stay​ ​away​ ​from​ ​me.​ ​ ​Away 
from​ ​my​ ​business.​ ​ ​Just…stay​ ​away. 
 
GARY 
You,​ ​tellin’​ ​me​ ​what​ ​to​ ​do?​ ​ ​You…you…. 
 
(Gary​ ​balls​ ​up​ ​his​ ​fists​ ​and​ ​starts​ ​for​ ​Mark.​ ​ ​Mark​ ​steps 
toward​ ​him.) 
 
MARK 
You​ ​little​ ​grubworm.​ ​ ​You​ ​think​ ​you’re​ ​gonna​ ​hurt​ ​me?​ ​ ​Come​ ​on,​ ​I’ll 
beat​ ​the​ ​living​ ​crap​ ​out​ ​of​ ​you​ ​and​ ​enjoy​ ​every​ ​minute​ ​of​ ​it. 
 
(Frightened,​ ​Gary​ ​backs​ ​down​ ​and​ ​steps​ ​away.) 
 
MARK 
Just​ ​what​ ​I​ ​thought.​ ​ ​A​ ​coward. 
 
LEVI 
Look.​ ​ ​Gary.​ ​ ​I​ ​know​ ​you’re​ ​goin’​ ​through​ ​some​ ​bad​ ​times. 
 
GARY 
 62 
What​ ​bad​ ​times?​ ​ ​You​ ​mean​ ​my​ ​friends​ ​turnin’​ ​their​ ​backs​ ​on​ ​me?​ ​ ​Like 
you?​ ​ ​You​ ​think​ ​you​ ​know​ ​so​ ​much,​ ​just​ ​‘cause​ ​all​ ​the​ ​time​ ​you’re 
readin’. 
 
LEVI 
Mark​ ​knows​ ​people​ ​in​ ​town.​ ​ ​Someone​ ​to​ ​help​ ​you. 
 
GARY 
What​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​people? 
 
MARK 
Counselors.​ ​ ​Someone​ ​who​ ​understands​ ​what​ ​you’re​ ​going​ ​through. 
Maybe​ ​a​ ​psychiatrist. 
 
GARY 
You​ ​think​ ​I’m​ ​crazy?​ ​ ​ ​Is​ ​that​ ​what​ ​you​ ​think? 
 
MARK 
From​ ​what​ ​Levi​ ​says,​ ​you​ ​got​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​some​ ​things​ ​that​ ​aren’t​ ​good​ ​for 
you.​ ​ ​And​ ​now​ ​you​ ​need​ ​help​ ​getting​ ​away​ ​from​ ​them. 
 
GARY 
You​ ​frickin’​ ​Ah-mo.​ ​ ​You?​ ​ ​S’posed​ ​to​ ​be​ ​my​ ​friend,​ ​and​ ​you’re​ ​talkin’ 
about​ ​me​ ​behind​ ​my​ ​back?​ ​ ​To​ ​this​ ​abomination?​ ​ ​I’m​ ​gonna....​ ​ ​I’m 
gonna.... 
 
LEVI 
No,​ ​no,​ ​now​ ​look.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​nothin’​ ​to​ ​be​ ​ashamed​ ​of,​ ​getting​ ​the​ ​help​ ​should 
you​ ​need​ ​it.​ ​ ​You’re​ ​just​ ​frahootled. 
 
GARY 
Frahootled!​ ​ ​You!​ ​ ​You​ ​calling​ ​me​ ​crazy!?​ ​ ​You….​ ​ ​I’M​ ​GONNA​ ​GET​ ​YOU 
FOR​ ​THIS.​ ​ ​YOU’LL​ ​SEE!!​ ​ ​YOU’RE​ ​GONNA​ ​BE​ ​SORRY,​ ​BOTH​ ​OF​ ​YOU. 
 
(Irate,​ ​he​ ​exits.) 
 
LEVI 
Oh,​ ​we​ ​shouldn’t​ ​have​ ​said​ ​anything.​ ​ ​He’s​ ​shunned.​ ​ ​We​ ​shouldn’t​ ​have 
talked​ ​to​ ​him​ ​at​ ​all.  
 
MARK 
Now​ ​that​ ​I​ ​know​ ​his​ ​name,​ ​I’ll​ ​tell​ ​the​ ​sheriff.​ ​ ​He’s​ ​been​ ​harassing​ ​us​ ​for 
months. 
 
LEVI 
 63 
Good.​ ​ ​Papa​ ​says​ ​let​ ​God​ ​handle​ ​it.​ ​ ​But​ ​dangerous​ ​he​ ​seems​ ​sometimes. 
So​ ​angry.​ ​ ​Not​ ​at​ ​all​ ​like​ ​he​ ​used​ ​to​ ​be. 
 
MARK 
I’ll​ ​go​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​the​ ​sheriff​ ​as​ ​soon​ ​as​ ​I​ ​get​ ​back​ ​into​ ​town. 
 
LEVI 
Look,​ ​Mark.​ ​ ​Look.​ ​ ​It​ ​was​ ​the​ ​best​ ​time​ ​of​ ​my​ ​life.​ ​ ​Really,​ ​I’ll​ ​never​ ​ever 
forget​ ​it.  
 
MARK 
It​ ​was​ ​really​ ​great​ ​to​ ​have​ ​you​ ​along. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​never​ ​knew​ ​the​ ​theater​ ​could​ ​be​ ​so​ ​many​ ​different​ ​things.​ ​ ​It​ ​made​ ​me 
laugh.​ ​ ​And​ ​cry.​ ​ ​And​ ​think.​ ​ ​And​ ​all​ ​the​ ​singing​ ​and​ ​dancing.​ ​ ​It​ ​was 
everything​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world,​ ​right​ ​up​ ​there​ ​on​ ​a​ ​stage. 
 
MARK 
You​ ​lit​ ​up​ ​from​ ​the​ ​inside​ ​every​ ​time​ ​you​ ​were​ ​in​ ​a​ ​theater. 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​so​ ​much​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​it​ ​gave​ ​me. 
 
MARK 
We’ve​ ​never​ ​had​ ​such​ ​intelligent​ ​discussions​ ​about​ ​theater​ ​as​ ​we​ ​had 
with​ ​you. 
 
LEVI 
My​ ​head​ ​was​ ​filled​ ​with​ ​thoughts​ ​and​ ​ideas.​ ​ ​And​ ​seeing​ ​Shakespeare. 
“All​ ​the​ ​world’s​ ​a​ ​stage.”​ ​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​I’d​ ​bust​ ​open​ ​when​ ​I​ ​heard​ ​that, 
because​ ​so​ ​true​ ​it​ ​is.​ ​ ​A​ ​whole​ ​different​ ​world​ ​you​ ​can​ ​show​ ​people,​ ​make 
them​ ​think​ ​of​ ​things​ ​they​ ​never​ ​thought​ ​of​ ​before.   
 
Theater​ ​can​ ​change​ ​people’s​ ​lives! 
 
MARK 
You​ ​were​ ​born​ ​to​ ​be​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​theatre​ ​world. 
 
LEVI 
Well,​ ​no,​ ​Mark.​ ​ ​No.​ ​ ​See,​ ​my​ ​rumspringa​ ​is​ ​over​ ​now.​ ​ ​An​ ​Amishman​ ​I’m 
gonna​ ​be.​ ​ ​I​ ​can​ ​never​ ​do​ ​that​ ​again,​ ​go​ ​to​ ​New​ ​York,​ ​see​ ​shows.​ ​ ​My​ ​life 
now​ ​will​ ​be​ ​apart​ ​from​ ​the​ ​world,​ ​away​ ​from​ ​theater​ ​forever.​ ​ ​Here, 
farmin’​ ​with​ ​my​ ​papa. 
 
 64 
MARK 
You​ ​don’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​write​ ​plays​ ​anymore?​ ​ ​You​ ​don’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​part​ ​of 
theater​ ​after​ ​seein’​ ​all​ ​those​ ​great​ ​shows? 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​love​ ​it​ ​more​ ​than​ ​anything​ ​I’ve​ ​ever​ ​seen​ ​in​ ​my​ ​whole​ ​life.​ ​ ​To​ ​be​ ​part​ ​of 
that,​ ​what​ ​else​ ​would​ ​I​ ​need?​ ​ ​My​ ​heart​ ​would​ ​be​ ​full. 
 
MARK 
You’d​ ​give​ ​up​ ​something​ ​you​ ​love​ ​so​ ​much?   
 
LEVI 
Givin’​ ​up​ ​something​ ​I​ ​love​ ​so​ ​much​ ​makes​ ​bein’​ ​Amish​ ​that​ ​much​ ​more 
important​ ​to​ ​my​ ​heart.​ ​ ​Like​ ​how​ ​Mutter​ ​gave​ ​up​ ​her​ ​English​ ​family​ ​to 
love​ ​us.​ ​ ​And​ ​her​ ​life​ ​as​ ​an​ ​artist.​ ​ ​It​ ​was​ ​a​ ​very​ ​big​ ​thing​ ​fer​ ​her​ ​to​ ​do. 
 
Besides,​ ​it​ ​would​ ​break​ ​my​ ​papa’s​ ​heart​ ​should​ ​I​ ​leave​ ​the​ ​order.​ ​ ​He’s 
my​ ​best​ ​friend.​ ​ ​He’d​ ​never​ ​go​ ​against​ ​me.​ ​ ​Ever.​ ​ ​And​ ​I​ ​could​ ​never​ ​do 
something​ ​bad​ ​to​ ​hurt​ ​his​ ​heart,​ ​either.​ ​ ​No,​ ​I’ll​ ​be​ ​content​ ​here,​ ​bein’​ ​the 
Amishman. 
 
MARK 
Your​ ​papa​ ​should​ ​want​ ​what’s​ ​best​ ​for​ ​you. 
 
LEVI 
Everything​ ​he​ ​does​ ​is​ ​to​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​I’m​ ​safe​ ​and​ ​on​ ​the​ ​plain​ ​path.  
The​ ​life​ ​I​ ​must​ ​have​ ​now​ ​is​ ​Amish.​ ​ ​Seeking​ ​Gelassenheit.   
 
MARK 
What​ ​is​ ​that?​ ​ ​Gelassenheit? 
 
LEVI 
A​ ​feeling​ ​of​ ​total​ ​humility,​ ​of​ ​inner​ ​peace,​ ​of​ ​understanding​ ​and 
acceptance​ ​that​ ​everything​ ​that​ ​happens​ ​is​ ​God’s​ ​plan,​ ​whether​ ​we 
understand​ ​why​ ​things​ ​happen​ ​or​ ​not. 
 
MARK 
Wow.​ ​ ​How​ ​Zen! 
 
LEVI 
What? 
 
MARK 
It’s​ ​the​ ​same​ ​feeling​ ​of​ ​peace​ ​Buddhists​ ​seek. 
 
 65 
LEVI 
What​ ​do​ ​you​ ​know?​ ​ ​I’m​ ​an​ ​Amish​ ​Buddhist​ ​who​ ​wants​ ​the​ ​same​ ​thing 
homosexuals​ ​want. 
 
(Mark​ ​laughs​ ​while​ ​gathering​ ​up​ ​his​ ​produce​ ​and​ ​goes 
to​ ​pay.​ ​ ​Levi​ ​waves​ ​him​ ​off.) 
 
I​ ​couldn’t​ ​take​ ​anything.​ ​ ​Not​ ​after​ ​all​ ​you​ ​did​ ​fer​ ​me. 
 
MARK 
So​ ​what’s​ ​next​ ​for​ ​you? 
 
LEVI 
Maybe​ ​tomorrow​ ​I’ll​ ​get​ ​some​ ​canoodlin’​ ​with​ ​Becky​ ​Bontrager​ ​in​ ​Papa’s 
buggy. 
 
MARK 
I’m​ ​sorta​ ​sad​ ​you​ ​won’t​ ​be​ ​with​ ​Hannah​ ​Lembright. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​will​ ​be​ ​content​ ​with​ ​whatever​ ​path​ ​God​ ​blesses​ ​me. 
 
Besides,​ ​I​ ​belong​ ​here.​ ​ ​I​ ​felt​ ​like​ ​I​ ​was​ ​walkin’​ ​naked​ ​down​ ​the​ ​street 
wearin’​ ​your​ ​clothes.​ ​ ​And​ ​all​ ​the​ ​people​ ​buyin’​ ​and​ ​sellin’​ ​and​ ​crowdin’ 
together​ ​and​ ​jostlin’. 
 
God​ ​lives​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​woods​ ​and​ ​fields.​ ​ ​Not​ ​in​ ​a​ ​big​ ​town​ ​with​ ​concrete 
and​ ​gas​ ​cars.​ ​ ​Seems​ ​like​ ​the​ ​English​ ​spend​ ​every​ ​minute​ ​of​ ​every​ ​day 
worrying​ ​how​ ​they​ ​look​ ​on​ ​the​ ​outside​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​what​ ​they’re​ ​like​ ​on​ ​the 
inside. 
 
MARK 
Yes.​ ​ ​Well.​ ​ ​Maybe​ ​I​ ​have​ ​been​ ​spending​ ​too​ ​much​ ​time​ ​in​ ​the​ ​gym​ ​lately. 
 
LEVI 
Don’t​ ​worry.​ ​ ​It​ ​doesn’t​ ​show. 
 
MARK 
Why​ ​thank​ ​you! 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​learned​ ​it​ ​from​ ​you.​ ​ ​Sarcasm. 
 
MARK 
 66 
Ah,​ ​sarcasm​ ​and​ ​musical​ ​theater.​ ​ ​Time​ ​to​ ​issue​ ​you​ ​your​ ​honorary​ ​gay 
membership​ ​card. 
 
LEVI 
Ah.​ ​ ​Mark.​ ​ ​Now​ ​that​ ​I’m​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be​ ​Amish,​ ​I​ ​can’t​ ​be​ ​your​ ​friend. 
Understand?​ ​ ​I​ ​mean,​ ​when​ ​I​ ​see​ ​you,​ ​I’ll​ ​ask​ ​you​ ​how​ ​you​ ​are.​ ​ ​And​ ​Tim. 
And​ ​I’ll​ ​really​ ​want​ ​to​ ​know.​ ​ ​But​ ​we​ ​can’t​ ​be​ ​good​ ​friends,​ ​like​ ​we​ ​were 
on​ ​this​ ​trip. 
 
MARK 
Oh,​ ​I​ ​see.​ ​ ​Because​ ​we’re​ ​gay. 
 
LEVI 
The​ ​Amish​ ​abide​ ​by​ ​what​ ​the​ ​Bible​ ​teaches​ ​us. 
 
MARK 
Even​ ​if​ ​what​ ​it​ ​teaches​ ​you​ ​hurts​ ​other​ ​people? 
 
LEVI 
Mark!​ ​ ​Has​ ​any​ ​Amishman​ ​ever​ ​hurt​ ​you?​ ​ ​Hurting​ ​anyone​ ​is​ ​not​ ​what 
we​ ​want.​ ​ ​Only​ ​to​ ​lead​ ​our​ ​lives​ ​the​ ​best​ ​way​ ​we​ ​know​ ​how. 
 
When​ ​I​ ​begin​ ​following​ ​church,​ ​what​ ​you​ ​are​ ​is​ ​not​ ​my​ ​business.​ ​ ​What 
you​ ​do​ ​will​ ​not​ ​concern​ ​me.​ ​ ​I​ ​won’t​ ​judge​ ​you​ ​or​ ​agree​ ​with​ ​you​ ​or 
disagree​ ​with​ ​you.​ ​ ​All​ ​that​ ​will​ ​concern​ ​me​ ​is​ ​my​ ​path​ ​and​ ​the​ ​path​ ​of 
my​ ​family.​ ​ ​Seeing​ ​to​ ​myself​ ​takes​ ​up​ ​enough​ ​time​ ​without​ ​worrying 
about​ ​others. 
 
MARK 
Every​ ​part​ ​of​ ​your​ ​life​ ​tied​ ​up​ ​around​ ​God. 
 
LEVI 
Don’t​ ​you​ ​believe​ ​in​ ​a​ ​Supreme​ ​Being?  
 
MARK 
Well,​ ​sure.​ ​ ​Diana​ ​Ross. 
 
LEVI 
Sometimes​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​when​ ​you’re​ ​being​ ​serious​ ​and​ ​when​ ​the​ ​jokes 
you’re​ ​making. 
 
MARK 
Neither​ ​do​ ​I,​ ​Levi.   
 
 67 
I​ ​guess​ ​I’m​ ​just​ ​too​ ​embarrassed​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​religion.​ ​ ​It’s…too​ ​personal 
of​ ​an​ ​issue. 
 
LEVI 
Yes,​ ​a​ ​personal​ ​decision​ ​fer​ ​each​ ​of​ ​us. 
 
And​ ​you​ ​want​ ​me​ ​to​ ​respect​ ​your​ ​right​ ​to​ ​believe​ ​and​ ​live​ ​exactly​ ​as​ ​you 
wish? 
 
MARK 
Of​ ​course​ ​I​ ​do.​ ​ ​Embrace​ ​diversity! 
 
LEVI 
Yes,​ ​Embrace​ ​diversity. 
 
How​ ​about​ ​embracing​ ​my​ ​diversity?​ ​ ​Can’t​ ​you​ ​give​ ​me​ ​the​ ​same​ ​right 
you​ ​want?​ ​ ​And​ ​the​ ​same​ ​respect? 
 
I​ ​would​ ​never​ ​try​ ​to​ ​take​ ​away​ ​what​ ​you​ ​believe.​ ​ ​Why​ ​would​ ​you​ ​do​ ​that 
to​ ​me? 
 
MARK 
You​ ​just​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​what​ ​it’s​ ​like,​ ​facing​ ​prejudice​ ​every​ ​single​ ​day​ ​of 
your​ ​life. 
 
LEVI 
Mark.​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​something​ ​I​ ​understand​ ​much​ ​better​ ​than​ ​most​ ​people. 
 
MARK 
Then​ ​you​ ​should​ ​be​ ​more​ ​understanding. 
 
LEVI 
There’s​ ​so​ ​much​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​understand​ ​about​ ​the​ ​world.​ ​ ​But​ ​this​ ​is​ ​one 
thing​ ​I​ ​do​ ​understand.​ ​ ​My​ ​place​ ​now​ ​will​ ​be​ ​to​ ​shun​ ​the​ ​world.​ ​ ​My 
friends​ ​must​ ​be​ ​Amish.​ ​ ​No​ ​more​ ​plays​ ​fer​ ​me.​ ​ ​And​ ​no​ ​more​ ​pants​ ​with 
zippers​ ​and​ ​shirts​ ​with​ ​buttons.​ ​ ​How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​ever​ ​get​ ​into​ ​and​ ​out​ ​of 
your​ ​clothes​ ​with​ ​all​ ​those​ ​darn​ ​buttons?​ ​ ​An​ ​hour​ ​every​ ​morning​ ​it​ ​took 
fer​ ​just​ ​the​ ​dressin’. 
 
(Mark​ ​laughs.​ ​ ​He​ ​tries​ ​to​ ​hug​ ​Levi,​ ​but​ ​Levi​ ​turns​ ​away, 
rejecting​ ​his​ ​embrace.) 
 
MARK 
Good-bye,​ ​Levi. 
 
 68 
LEVI 
Good-bye,​ ​Mark.​ ​ ​And​ ​thank​ ​you​ ​again.​ ​ ​So​ ​much. 
 
(Mark​ ​exits.​ ​Levi​ ​begins​ ​straightening​ ​up​ ​the​ ​produce, 
getting​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​close​ ​the​ ​stand​ ​for​ ​the​ ​night.​ ​ ​Night​ ​is 
coming​ ​on.​ ​ ​Mary​ ​enters​ ​and​ ​walks​ ​by​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​They​ ​want 
to​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other​ ​but​ ​can’t.​ ​She​ ​is​ ​still​ ​being 
shunned.​ ​ ​Levi​ ​turns​ ​away​ ​from​ ​her.)  
 
MARY 
Oh,​ ​God,​ ​so​ ​thankful​ ​to​ ​You​ ​I​ ​am​ ​that​ ​my​ ​brother’s​ ​home​ ​safe.​ ​ ​The​ ​days 
go​ ​on​ ​forever​ ​with​ ​no​ ​one​ ​to​ ​talk​ ​to.​ ​ ​With​ ​only​ ​thoughts​ ​of​ ​how​ ​wicked​ ​I 
am​ ​filling​ ​my​ ​brain.​ ​ ​And​ ​worried​ ​so​ ​bad​ ​about​ ​my​ ​brother​ ​and​ ​where​ ​he 
is​ ​and​ ​how​ ​he​ ​is​ ​and​ ​if​ ​he’s​ ​safe.​ ​ ​And​ ​no​ ​one​ ​to​ ​ask.​ ​ ​But​ ​now,​ ​Levi’s 
home​ ​safe.​ ​ ​Thank​ ​You,​ ​God.​ ​ ​Thank​ ​You​ ​so​ ​much. 
 
(Mary​ ​enters​ ​the​ ​house.​ ​ ​Aaron​ ​enters​ ​and​ ​silently 
watches​ ​his​ ​son​ ​for​ ​a​ ​moment​ ​ ​He​ ​is​ ​initially 
standoffish.) 
 
AARON 
So.​ ​ ​It​ ​is​ ​home​ ​you​ ​are. 
 
LEVI 
Papa! 
 
AARON 
It’s​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time​ ​since​ ​you​ ​were​ ​born,​ ​upstairs​ ​in​ ​that​ ​room,​ ​that​ ​I’ve 
been​ ​apart​ ​from​ ​you.​ ​ ​And​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​even​ ​tell​ ​me​ ​you’re​ ​leavin’? 
 
LEVI 
I...I​ ​went​ ​on​ ​my​ ​rumspringa. 
 
AARON 
Your​ ​mutter,​ ​she​ ​told​ ​me.​ ​ ​Your​ ​own​ ​self​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​you​ ​shoulda​ ​told​ ​me. 
I​ ​thought​ ​we​ ​were​ ​best​ ​friends​ ​even. 
 
LEVI 
Things​ ​were​ ​in​ ​a​ ​turmoil,​ ​and​ ​it​ ​come​ ​up​ ​so​ ​fast.​ ​ ​I​ ​just​ ​hadda​ ​go​ ​so 
soon. 
 
AARON 
I​ ​know​ ​you​ ​was​ ​mad.​ ​ ​Because​ ​I​ ​shunned​ ​your​ ​sister.   
 
LEVI 
 69 
I​ ​didn’t​ ​want​ ​to​ ​say​ ​things​ ​to​ ​you​ ​that​ ​maybe​ ​I’d​ ​regret.​ ​ ​Because​ ​of​ ​my 
anger.​ ​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​it​ ​best​ ​to​ ​leave. 
 
AARON 
You​ ​thought​ ​I​ ​did​ ​wrong. 
 
LEVI 
Glad​ ​I’ll​ ​be​ ​when​ ​I’m​ ​the​ ​papa​ ​and​ ​get​ ​to​ ​make​ ​the​ ​decisions. 
 
AARON 
You​ ​think​ ​that​ ​now,​ ​but​ ​it’s​ ​the​ ​very​ ​hardest​ ​of​ ​God’s​ ​jobs.​ ​ ​It​ ​sets​ ​your 
wife​ ​and​ ​children​ ​apart​ ​from​ ​you.​ ​ ​You​ ​can​ ​never​ ​be​ ​as​ ​one​ ​with​ ​them,​ ​no 
matter​ ​how​ ​much​ ​you​ ​want​ ​it. 
 
(The​ ​tension​ ​between​ ​them​ ​dissolves.) 
 
LEVI 
Papa,​ ​I’m​ ​so​ ​sorry.​ ​ ​I​ ​shoulda​ ​told​ ​you​ ​I​ ​was​ ​goin’. 
 
AARON 
Hush,​ ​now.​ ​ ​Come​ ​on​ ​the​ ​steps​ ​sit.​ ​ ​Your​ ​shoes​ ​and​ ​socks​ ​remove. 
 
(Aaron​ ​goes​ ​to​ ​the​ ​produce​ ​stand​ ​to​ ​retrieve​ ​a​ ​bucket​ ​of 
water​ ​and​ ​a​ ​towel.​ ​ ​As​ ​he​ ​speaks,​ ​he​ ​dips​ ​water​ ​from 
the​ ​pail​ ​with​ ​his​ ​cupped​ ​hands​ ​and​ ​washes​ ​his​ ​son’s 
feet​ ​and​ ​dries​ ​them​ ​with​ ​the​ ​towel.​ ​ ​Levi​ ​is 
overwhelmed​ ​at​ ​his​ ​father’s​ ​actions.) 
 
On​ ​your​ ​rumspringa​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​need​ ​to​ ​know​ ​what​ ​you​ ​did.​ ​ ​Ain’t​ ​none​ ​of​ ​my 
business.​ ​ ​None​ ​of​ ​it​ ​matters​ ​except​ ​you’re​ ​back​ ​home​ ​now​ ​with​ ​us. 
 
LEVI 
It’s​ ​proud​ ​and​ ​humble​ ​I​ ​am​ ​to​ ​have​ ​you​ ​as​ ​my​ ​father. 
 
AARON 
And​ ​proud​ ​and​ ​humble​ ​I​ ​am​ ​to​ ​have​ ​you​ ​as​ ​a​ ​son. 
 
Levi.​ ​ ​Levi,​ ​are​ ​you​ ​gonna​ ​be​ ​Amish? 
 
LEVI 
Oh,​ ​yah​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​My​ ​heart​ ​is​ ​in​ ​the​ ​earth​ ​here,​ ​with​ ​you​ ​and​ ​Mutter​ ​and 
Mary.​ ​ ​And​ ​the​ ​animals.​ ​ ​And​ ​the​ ​woods​ ​and​ ​the​ ​stream.​ ​ ​I​ ​missed​ ​it​ ​all 
something​ ​fierce. 
 
AARON 
 70 
Good.​ ​ ​Good!!​ ​ ​Into​ ​God’s​ ​rich​ ​earth​ ​we’ll​ ​sink​ ​our​ ​hands​ ​together.​ ​ ​And 
when​ ​your​ ​bride​ ​you​ ​bring​ ​home​ ​to​ ​live,​ ​we’ll​ ​love​ ​her​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​our 
family. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​understand​ ​how​ ​people​ ​who​ ​live​ ​apart​ ​from​ ​a​ ​farm​ ​and​ ​the​ ​woods​ ​came 
to​ ​forget​ ​their​ ​place​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world. 
 
AARON 
Go​ ​in​ ​the​ ​house,​ ​Son.​ ​ ​Your​ ​mutter​ ​is​ ​worried​ ​fer​ ​yah.​ ​ ​I’ll​ ​be​ ​in​ ​after​ ​I 
check​ ​the​ ​horses. 
 
(Aaron​ ​exits.​ ​ ​Levi​ ​enters​ ​the​ ​kitchen.​ ​ ​Katherine​ ​is 
wearing​ ​a​ ​white​ ​apron.) 
 
KATHERINE 
My​ ​son! 
 
LEVI 
Mutter,​ ​what​ ​is​ ​this,​ ​these​ ​tears?​ ​ ​Why​ ​are​ ​you​ ​cryin’​ ​so? 
 
KATHERINE 
Having​ ​you​ ​gone​ ​was​ ​like​ ​an​ ​empty​ ​spot​ ​deep​ ​inside​ ​my​ ​heart.   
 
LEVI 
Mutter!​ ​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​know​ ​you’d​ ​miss​ ​me​ ​so. 
 
KATHERINE 
You​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​how​ ​much​ ​I​ ​love​ ​you?​ ​ ​You’re​ ​so​ ​much​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​me.​ ​ ​And 
your​ ​papa. 
 
LEVI 
Mutter.​ ​ ​I​ ​understand​ ​now.​ ​ ​About​ ​you. 
 
KATHERINE 
What​ ​do​ ​you​ ​mean? 
 
LEVI 
On​ ​my​ ​rumspringa.​ ​ ​Your​ ​paintings​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​in​ ​a​ ​gallery.​ ​ ​And​ ​your​ ​name. 
Your​ ​old​ ​name.​ ​ ​See. 
 
(He​ ​hands​ ​her​ ​a​ ​folded​ ​piece​ ​of​ ​paper.) 
 
KATHERINE 
“Katherine​ ​Henderson.​ ​ ​A​ ​retrospective.”​ ​ ​My. 
 71 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​your​ ​paintings​ ​you​ ​did​ ​before​ ​you​ ​came​ ​here.​ ​ ​Beautiful​ ​they 
are.​ ​ ​What​ ​did​ ​they​ ​call​ ​them…? 
 
KATHERINE 
Impressionist? 
 
LEVI 
Such​ ​a​ ​good​ ​word​ ​fer​ ​them.​ ​ ​Impressions​ ​of​ ​God’s​ ​world.​ ​ ​I​ ​never​ ​knew​ ​so 
many​ ​people​ ​know​ ​about​ ​you. 
 
KATHERINE 
Well,​ ​they​ ​used​ ​to.​ ​ ​I​ ​didn’t​ ​know​ ​they​ ​still​ ​did.​ ​ ​How​ ​did​ ​you​ ​find​ ​out 
about​ ​this​ ​show? 
 
LEVI 
Two​ ​people​ ​I​ ​know​ ​in​ ​Shipshewana.​ ​ ​They​ ​know​ ​who​ ​you​ ​are.​ ​ ​Even​ ​more 
than​ ​I​ ​did​ ​yet,​ ​and​ ​you​ ​my​ ​own​ ​mutter.​ ​ ​On​ ​the​ ​Internet​ ​they​ ​found​ ​the 
showing.​ ​ ​They​ ​asked​ ​me​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​New​ ​York​ ​and​ ​surprised​ ​me​ ​with​ ​your 
paintings.​ ​ ​They​ ​knew​ ​how​ ​much​ ​it​ ​would​ ​mean​ ​to​ ​me. 
 
KATHERINE 
My.​ ​ ​People​ ​still​ ​remember​ ​me. 
 
LEVI 
How​ ​could​ ​you​ ​give​ ​up​ ​such​ ​a​ ​big​ ​thing? 
 
KATHERINE 
Oh,​ ​I​ ​loved​ ​the​ ​painting.​ ​ ​It’s​ ​all​ ​the​ ​stuff​ ​that​ ​went​ ​with​ ​it​ ​I​ ​learned​ ​to 
hate.​ ​ ​Gallery​ ​openings,​ ​and​ ​all​ ​the​ ​pretentious​ ​people​ ​pressing​ ​up​ ​to​ ​me. 
Talking​ ​just​ ​so.​ ​ ​Drinking​ ​the​ ​correct​ ​wine.​ ​ ​Eating​ ​caviar​ ​they​ ​thought 
they’re​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​like.​ ​ ​And​ ​all​ ​the​ ​men​ ​hitting​ ​on​ ​me. 
 
LEVI 
Mutter!​ ​ ​Men​ ​hit​ ​you! 
 
KATHERINE 
No,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​No.​ ​ ​Men​ ​pretending​ ​to​ ​like​ ​me​ ​because​ ​I​ ​was​ ​successful.​ ​ ​But 
they​ ​were​ ​really​ ​just​ ​so​ ​wrapped​ ​up​ ​in​ ​themselves.​ ​ ​Me,​ ​me,​ ​me.​ ​ ​And 
party​ ​after​ ​party​ ​after​ ​party​ ​in​ ​a​ ​meaningless​ ​blur.   
 
But​ ​then​ ​here​ ​comes​ ​your​ ​father.​ ​ ​Someone​ ​I​ ​never​ ​expected.​ ​ ​No 
pretense.​ ​ ​Everything​ ​about​ ​him​ ​real.​ ​ ​And​ ​his​ ​every​ ​thought,​ ​his​ ​every 
action,​ ​is​ ​to​ ​take​ ​care​ ​of​ ​me.​ ​ ​Not​ ​only​ ​in​ ​this​ ​life​ ​but​ ​in​ ​the​ ​next​ ​life,​ ​too 
 72 
 
Once​ ​you’ve​ ​loved​ ​someone.​ ​ ​I​ ​mean​ ​really​ ​loved,​ ​with​ ​all​ ​your​ ​soul​ ​and 
every​ ​part​ ​of​ ​you.​ ​ ​And​ ​once​ ​someone​ ​loves​ ​you​ ​back​ ​the​ ​same​ ​way. 
Why,​ ​you’d​ ​give​ ​up​ ​the​ ​world​ ​to​ ​be​ ​with​ ​that​ ​person. 
 
LEVI 
Sometimes,​ ​maybe,​ ​well,​ ​bad​ ​words​ ​I’ve​ ​said​ ​to​ ​you​ ​and​ ​hurt​ ​you.​ ​ ​But 
Mutter,​ ​never​ ​again.​ ​ ​Now​ ​I​ ​will​ ​honor​ ​you​ ​like​ ​I​ ​should​ ​have​ ​all​ ​along. 
 
KATHERINE 
You​ ​never​ ​hurt​ ​me.​ ​ ​How​ ​could​ ​you?​ ​ ​You’re​ ​my​ ​son. 
 
(Aaron​ ​enters​ ​the​ ​kitchen.) 
 
AARON 
Katherine,​ ​Amish​ ​he’s​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be! 
 
KATHERINE 
Oh,​ ​I’m​ ​so​ ​glad.​ ​ ​For​ ​you,​ ​Aaron.​ ​ ​I​ ​know​ ​how​ ​much​ ​this​ ​means​ ​to​ ​you. 
 
(As​ ​Aaron​ ​washes​ ​in​ ​the​ ​sink,​ ​Katherine​ ​sets​ ​another 
place​ ​at​ ​the​ ​table.​ ​ ​There​ ​are​ ​now​ ​three.​ ​ ​She​ ​sets​ ​the 
food​ ​on​ ​the​ ​table.) 
 
KATHERINE 
Look​ ​at​ ​you.​ ​ ​All​ ​grown​ ​up​ ​and​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​be​ ​baptized. 
 
Now​ ​come,​ ​sit.​ ​ ​Mrs.​ ​Miller​ ​brought​ ​us​ ​sauerbraten​ ​today.​ ​ ​And​ ​noodles. 
Amish​ ​noodles.​ ​ ​White.​ ​ ​Without​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​ ​different​ ​colors. 
 
(They​ ​sit​ ​down​ ​to​ ​eat.​ ​ ​Mary​ ​enters​ ​through​ ​the​ ​house, 
picks​ ​up​ ​a​ ​plate​ ​from​ ​the​ ​cupboard,​ ​and​ ​dishes​ ​up​ ​her 
dinner.​ ​ ​She​ ​does​ ​not​ ​look​ ​at​ ​her​ ​family​ ​members,​ ​and 
they​ ​do​ ​not​ ​look​ ​at​ ​her.​ ​ ​She​ ​takes​ ​her​ ​plate​ ​out​ ​onto​ ​the 
porch,​ ​where​ ​she​ ​sits​ ​in​ ​a​ ​plain​ ​chair​ ​or​ ​on​ ​the​ ​steps 
and​ ​eats​ ​and​ ​listens​ ​to​ ​what​ ​is​ ​going​ ​on​ ​inside.) 
 
(Katherine,​ ​Levi,​ ​and​ ​Aaron​ ​join​ ​hands​ ​in​ ​a​ ​circle.​ ​ ​They 
bow​ ​their​ ​heads.​ ​ ​Amish​ ​prayers​ ​are​ ​silent.​ ​ ​After​ ​a 
moment,​ ​Aaron​ ​says....) 
 
AARON 
Amen.   
 
Now​ ​you​ ​must​ ​all​ ​reach​ ​and​ ​help​ ​yourselves. 
 73 
 
(They​ ​begin​ ​eating.) 
 
AARON 
And​ ​I’d​ ​like​ ​to​ ​say​ ​more,​ ​today,​ ​Lord.​ ​ ​Today​ ​is​ ​such​ ​a​ ​big​ ​day​ ​fer​ ​us. 
Our​ ​son​ ​is​ ​home.​ ​ ​Amish​ ​he’s​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be.​ ​ ​And​ ​farm​ ​this​ ​land​ ​with​ ​me 
till​ ​the​ ​day​ ​I​ ​die,​ ​then​ ​his​ ​sons,​ ​then​ ​their​ ​sons​ ​after. 
 
And​ ​it’s​ ​a​ ​big​ ​day​ ​fer​ ​another​ ​reason,​ ​too,​ ​Lord. 
 
(Although​ ​Aaron​ ​is​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​Mary,​ ​he​ ​is​ ​also​ ​really 
talking​ ​to​ ​her​ ​in​ ​the​ ​only​ ​way​ ​he​ ​can​ ​while​ ​she​ ​is​ ​being 
shunned.​ ​ ​She​ ​reacts​ ​with​ ​great​ ​joy​ ​at​ ​his​ ​words.) 
 
Lord,​ ​you​ ​have​ ​put​ ​pity​ ​inside​ ​my​ ​heart.​ ​ ​I’ve​ ​decided​ ​our​ ​daughter, 
Mary,​ ​is​ ​done​ ​being​ ​shunned​ ​tomorrow,​ ​two​ ​whole​ ​weeks​ ​early. 
Tomorrow​ ​morning,​ ​she​ ​will​ ​get​ ​up​ ​with​ ​us​ ​and​ ​have​ ​breakfast.​ ​ ​And​ ​her 
sunny​ ​face​ ​we​ ​will​ ​welcome​ ​to​ ​our​ ​table.​ ​ ​And​ ​then​ ​complete​ ​our​ ​family 
will​ ​be.​ ​ ​Mutter,​ ​Papa,​ ​Levi,​ ​and​ ​Mary,​ ​all​ ​together​ ​again.​ ​ ​Like​ ​God 
intended. 
 
Oh,​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​to​ ​say​ ​to​ ​us​ ​I​ ​bet​ ​she’ll​ ​have​ ​after​ ​she’s​ ​been​ ​quiet​ ​fer​ ​so​ ​long.​ ​ ​I 
bet​ ​all​ ​that​ ​unused​ ​chatter​ ​filled​ ​up​ ​her​ ​head​ ​fer​ ​these​ ​two​ ​weeks. 
 
And​ ​after​ ​breakfast,​ ​she’ll​ ​go​ ​down​ ​to​ ​the​ ​barn,​ ​where​ ​her​ ​horse,​ ​Old 
Jake,​ ​has​ ​been​ ​waiting​ ​patiently​ ​fer​ ​her​ ​all​ ​this​ ​time. 
 
And​ ​this​ ​means,​ ​Lord,​ ​that​ ​she’ll​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Autumn​ ​Frolic​ ​like 
she​ ​promised​ ​the​ ​bishop’s​ ​son.​ ​ ​And​ ​all​ ​her​ ​friends​ ​will​ ​never​ ​know​ ​about 
the​ ​lip​ ​paint.​ ​ ​Because​ ​we​ ​know​ ​You​ ​have​ ​forgiveness​ ​fer​ ​her,​ ​Lord. 
 
​ ​Thank​ ​you,​ ​Lord. 
 
(There​ ​is​ ​a​ ​loud​ ​POP.​ ​ ​Then​ ​another​ ​and​ ​another. 
Katherine​ ​looks​ ​horrified.) 
 
KATHERINE 
No!​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​no! 
 
AARON 
What​ ​is​ ​this? 
 
LEVI 
Gunshots? 
 
 74 
KATHERINE 
No!​ ​ ​My​ ​tomatoes! 
 
(She​ ​exits​ ​into​ ​the​ ​pantry.​ ​ ​There​ ​are​ ​three​ ​or​ ​four​ ​more 
loud​ ​pops.)  
 
KATHERINE 
Oh,​ ​no.​ ​ ​Just​ ​look!​ ​ ​What​ ​a​ ​mess.​ ​ ​Don’t​ ​you​ ​dare​ ​tell​ ​Sarah​ ​Miller​ ​about 
this! 
 
(Katherine​ ​re-enters​ ​the​ ​kitchen.​ ​ ​Her​ ​white​ ​apron​ ​is 
stained​ ​with​ ​large​ ​floral-looking​ ​red​ ​patches.) 
 
KATHERINE 
Oh,​ ​my​ ​tomatoes!​ ​ ​They’re​ ​spoiled.​ ​ ​They’re​ ​blowing​ ​up​ ​all​ ​over​ ​the 
pantry.​ ​ ​What​ ​am​ ​I​ ​going​ ​to​ ​do? 
 
AARON 
Come​ ​here​ ​Wife. 
 
Just​ ​look​ ​at​ ​this​ ​fancy​ ​pokey-doted​ ​apron​ ​you’re​ ​wearin’.​ ​ ​I​ ​think​ ​should 
the​ ​bishop​ ​see​ ​you​ ​in​ ​such​ ​a​ ​fancy​ ​garb,​ ​he’ll​ ​think​ ​you​ ​been​ ​down​ ​to 
Shipshewana​ ​doin’​ ​the​ ​hoochey​ ​cooch​ ​fer​ ​all​ ​the​ ​tourists​ ​who​ ​come​ ​to 
gape​ ​at​ ​us​ ​Amish. 
 
LEVI 
Oh,​ ​Papa! 
 
(Levi​ ​and​ ​Aaron​ ​begin​ ​laughing,​ ​and​ ​so​ ​does​ ​Katherine. 
Mary​ ​squirms​ ​on​ ​the​ ​porch,​ ​barely​ ​able​ ​to​ ​contain​ ​her 
glee.​ ​ ​It​ ​is​ ​now​ ​dark​ ​out.) 
 
AARON 
Don’t​ ​worry​ ​nothin’​ ​about​ ​the​ ​mess,​ ​Mutter.​ ​ ​Tomorrow,​ ​the​ ​pantry​ ​we’ll 
clean​ ​up​ ​together.   
 
KATHERINE 
But​ ​all​ ​those​ ​spoiled​ ​tomatoes! 
 
AARON 
I​ ​hear​ ​fall​ ​tomatoes​ ​makes​ ​fer​ ​the​ ​best​ ​cannin’​ ​anyway.​ ​ ​Tomatoes​ ​don’t 
matter,​ ​not​ ​when​ ​we​ ​got​ ​our​ ​health​ ​and​ ​our​ ​whole​ ​family​ ​here​ ​together 
under​ ​one​ ​roof. 
 
Besides,​ ​maybe​ ​spoiled​ ​tomatoes​ ​is​ ​one​ ​way​ ​God​ ​keeps​ ​you​ ​humble.   
 75 
 
KATHERINE 
God​ ​has​ ​so​ ​very​ ​many​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​me​ ​humble. 
 
​ ​(Aaron​ ​stands.) 
 
AARON 
It​ ​was​ ​a​ ​real​ ​good​ ​meal.​ ​ ​And​ ​glad​ ​we​ ​are​ ​to​ ​have​ ​you​ ​home,​ ​Son,​ ​to 
share​ ​it​ ​with​ ​us.​ ​ ​The​ ​Bible​ ​tells​ ​us,​ ​“Better​ ​is​ ​a​ ​dinner​ ​of​ ​herbs​ ​where 
love​ ​is,​ ​than​ ​a​ ​fatted​ ​calf​ ​with​ ​hatred.” 
 
 
KATHERINE 
Welcome​ ​home,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Son. 
 
AARON 
Time​ ​to​ ​bed​ ​fer​ ​all​ ​of​ ​us​ ​to​ ​go​ ​and​ ​get​ ​tomorrow​ ​morning​ ​a​ ​fresh​ ​start. 
 
(Katherine​ ​carries​ ​the​ ​dishes​ ​to​ ​the​ ​sink​ ​where​ ​she 
rinses​ ​them​ ​under​ ​the​ ​hand​ ​pump.​ ​ ​Levi​ ​puts​ ​the​ ​food​ ​in 
the​ ​icebox.​ ​ ​They​ ​turn​ ​down​ ​the​ ​oil​ ​lamp​ ​and​ ​exit​ ​to​ ​the 
house,​ ​and​ ​up​ ​to​ ​their​ ​rooms.​ ​ ​Mary​ ​enters​ ​the​ ​kitchen, 
where​ ​she​ ​quickly​ ​wipes​ ​the​ ​dishes​ ​and​ ​puts​ ​them 
away,​ ​then​ ​goes​ ​to​ ​bed.) 
 
(A​ ​cow​ ​lows​ ​in​ ​the​ ​barn.​ ​ ​The​ ​sound​ ​of​ ​crickets​ ​fills​ ​the 
air.​ ​ ​The​ ​peace​ ​is​ ​suddenly​ ​broken​ ​when​ ​the​ ​cyclorama 
begins​ ​glowing​ ​faintly​ ​red.​ ​ ​Gary​ ​enters,​ ​drunk, 
swigging​ ​from​ ​a​ ​bottle.) 
 
GARY 
You​ ​frickin’​ ​Ah-mo​ ​faggot!​ ​ ​Talkin’​ ​about​ ​me​ ​behind​ ​my​ ​back!   
 
My​ ​friend​ ​you​ ​was​ ​supposed​ ​to​ ​be! 
 
(The​ ​cyclorama​ ​suddenly​ ​bursts​ ​into​ ​red,​ ​orange,​ ​and 
yellow​ ​light.​ ​ ​The​ ​barn​ ​is​ ​burning.​ ​ ​Gary​ ​runs​ ​offstage. 
Mary​ ​bursts​ ​into​ ​the​ ​kitchen,​ ​out​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​porch,​ ​and 
runs​ ​across​ ​the​ ​yard,​ ​toward​ ​the​ ​barn.​ ​ ​A​ ​horse 
screams,​ ​whinnies.) 
 
MARY 
Oh​ ​no!​ ​ ​My​ ​horse! 
 
I’m​ ​comin’,​ ​Old​ ​Jake.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​comin’! 
 76 
 
(Levi​ ​stumbles​ ​into​ ​the​ ​kitchen,​ ​pulling​ ​on​ ​his​ ​clothes, 
and​ ​exits​ ​out​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​porch.) 
 
LEVI 
Papa!​ ​ ​Papa,​ ​the​ ​barn’s​ ​afire.​ ​ ​Papa,​ ​come!! 
 
(He​ ​yanks​ ​the​ ​cord​ ​on​ ​the​ ​alarm​ ​bell​ ​then​ ​picks​ ​up​ ​the 
bucket​ ​of​ ​water​ ​on​ ​his​ ​way​ ​to​ ​the​ ​barn.​ ​ ​Aaron​ ​bursts 
into​ ​the​ ​kitchen,​ ​followed​ ​by​ ​Katherine.​ ​ ​They​ ​go​ ​out 
into​ ​the​ ​yard) 
 
AARON 
Get​ ​the​ ​animals​ ​out,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Open​ ​the​ ​big​ ​door.​ ​ ​Quick! 
 
(Aaron​ ​exits.​ ​ ​Sarah​ ​enters​ ​in​ ​a​ ​run.​ ​ ​Katherine​ ​tries​ ​to 
exit​ ​to​ ​the​ ​barn,​ ​but​ ​Sarah​ ​wraps​ ​her​ ​arms​ ​around 
Katherine​ ​and​ ​guides​ ​her​ ​to​ ​the​ ​porch,​ ​where​ ​they​ ​sit.) 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​must​ ​go​ ​help​ ​my​ ​husband! 
 
SARAH 
Sit​ ​here,​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​way.​ ​ ​The​ ​men​ ​will​ ​fight​ ​the​ ​fire. 
 
KATHERINE 
But​ ​Aaron…. 
 
SARAH 
Up​ ​through​ ​the​ ​field​ ​the​ ​Bontragers​ ​ran​ ​to​ ​help​ ​Aaron​ ​and​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Und​ ​the 
Lembrights​ ​are​ ​driving​ ​their​ ​buggies​ ​up​ ​through​ ​the​ ​corn​ ​stubble.​ ​ ​Let 
the​ ​men​ ​handle​ ​it.​ ​ ​We’ll​ ​just​ ​be​ ​in​ ​the​ ​way. 
 
KATHERINE 
But​ ​Aaron​ ​and​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​And​ ​Mary.​ ​ ​Where’s​ ​Mary? 
 
SARAH 
Katherine,​ ​calm​ ​down​ ​und​ ​listen.​ ​ ​Tomorrow,​ ​when​ ​this​ ​is​ ​all​ ​over,​ ​you 
can​ ​teach​ ​me​ ​the​ ​colorful​ ​noodles​ ​how​ ​to​ ​make.​ ​ ​Und​ ​Bishop​ ​Lapp’s​ ​wife 
asked​ ​you​ ​to​ ​join​ ​us​ ​in​ ​the​ ​quilting​ ​bee​ ​circle.​ ​ ​All​ ​the​ ​ladies​ ​want​ ​you 
there,​ ​Katherine.​ ​ ​I​ ​told​ ​them​ ​about​ ​your​ ​noodles,​ ​und​ ​they​ ​all​ ​want​ ​to 
learn.​ ​ ​Und​ ​their​ ​recipes​ ​to​ ​share​ ​with​ ​you,​ ​too. 
 
KATHERINE 
Why​ ​are​ ​you​ ​telling​ ​me​ ​this​ ​now?​ ​ ​In​ ​the​ ​middle​ ​of​ ​all​ ​this? 
 77 
 
SARAH 
Because​ ​you​ ​shamed​ ​me.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​the​ ​one​ ​who​ ​should​ ​be​ ​teachin’​ ​you​ ​the 
Amish​ ​how​ ​to​ ​be.​ ​ ​But​ ​when​ ​you​ ​talk​ ​about​ ​how​ ​we​ ​shunned​ ​you​ ​aside 
fer​ ​all​ ​those​ ​years,​ ​I​ ​realize​ ​you​ ​have​ ​the​ ​better​ ​Amish​ ​heart​ ​than​ ​I. 
 
The​ ​less​ ​you​ ​did​ ​in​ ​the​ ​kitchen,​ ​the​ ​more​ ​I​ ​felt​ ​needed. 
 
Und​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​make​ ​it​ ​up​ ​to​ ​you. 
 
(A​ ​horse​ ​whinnies.) 
 
SARAH 
Oh,​ ​look!​ ​ ​Our​ ​English​ ​neighbors​ ​are​ ​comin’​ ​through​ ​the​ ​field​ ​to​ ​help​ ​us 
the​ ​fire​ ​to​ ​fight. 
 
KATHERINE 
Let​ ​go​ ​of​ ​me!​ ​ ​I​ ​must​ ​find​ ​my​ ​family! 
 
MARY​ ​(OS) 
Hold​ ​still!​ ​ ​Old​ ​Jake!​ ​ ​I’ll​ ​get​ ​you​ ​out!​ ​ ​OLD​ ​JAKE!! 
 
(The​ ​horse​ ​screams.​ ​ ​Mary​ ​screams.​ ​ ​Aaron​ ​and​ ​Levi 
call​ ​to​ ​each​ ​other.​ ​ ​The​ ​voices​ ​of​ ​other​ ​men,​ ​fighting​ ​the 
fire,​ ​join​ ​in.) 
 
KATHERINE 
Where​ ​is​ ​my​ ​daughter?!! 
 
AARON​ ​(OS) 
Oh,​ ​no!​ ​ ​Good​ ​Lord,​ ​no. 
 
KATHERINE 
Mary.​ ​ ​Where​ ​is​ ​Mary? 
 
SARAH 
Now​ ​hush.​ ​ ​Here​ ​comes​ ​Aaron.​ ​ ​And​ ​Levi....​ ​ ​Oh....​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​dear​ ​Lord.... 
 
(Aaron​ ​and​ ​Levi​ ​enter​ ​carrying​ ​a​ ​board​ ​between​ ​them 
with​ ​a​ ​body​ ​on​ ​it,​ ​draped​ ​in​ ​a​ ​black​ ​cloth.​ ​ ​They​ ​are 
smudged​ ​with​ ​soot,​ ​their​ ​clothes​ ​torn​ ​and​ ​dirty.) 
 
LEVI 
Please,​ ​Sarah.​ ​ ​Open​ ​the​ ​door​ ​fer​ ​us. 
 
 78 
(Sarah​ ​opens​ ​the​ ​door,​ ​enters​ ​the​ ​kitchen,​ ​and​ ​turns​ ​up 
the​ ​oil​ ​lamp.​ ​ ​She​ ​quickly​ ​clears​ ​away​ ​anything​ ​left​ ​on 
the​ ​table.​ ​ ​Levi​ ​and​ ​Aaron​ ​put​ ​Mary’s​ ​draped​ ​body​ ​on 
the​ ​table.) 
 
KATHERINE 
Where​ ​is...?​ ​ ​What...?​ ​ ​What​ ​happened​ ​to...? 
 
(Aaron​ ​folds​ ​Katherine​ ​in​ ​his​ ​arms.) 
 
AARON 
Katherine.​ ​ ​Wife.​ ​ ​Old​ ​Jake.​ ​ ​Mary​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​help​ ​him​ ​out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​fire. 
He...he​ ​fell​ ​on​ ​her.​ ​ ​Old​ ​Jake​ ​is​ ​dead.​ ​ ​Mary​ ​is.... 
 
(Overcome​ ​with​ ​grief,​ ​Katherine​ ​moves​ ​to​ ​the​ ​body​ ​on 
the​ ​table.​ ​ ​She​ ​puts​ ​her​ ​hand​ ​on​ ​the​ ​black​ ​cloth.) 
 
KATHERINE 
Mary....​ ​ ​Mary....​ ​ ​How​ ​can​ ​we​ ​go​ ​on? 
 
AARON 
Why...?​ ​ ​Who​ ​would​ ​want​ ​to​ ​hurt​ ​Mary​ ​such​ ​as​ ​this? 
 
LEVI 
Papa,​ ​I….​ ​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know.... 
 
AARON 
Amos​ ​Byler​ ​was​ ​out​ ​here,​ ​screamin’​ ​names​ ​at​ ​us.​ ​ ​Amos​ ​Byler​ ​burned 
our​ ​barn.​ ​ ​And​ ​killed​ ​Mary.​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​my​ ​God.​ ​ ​Mary,​ ​my​ ​dear,​ ​dear 
daughter.... 
 
KATHERINE 
Oh,​ ​Mary.​ ​ ​Oh​ ​no,​ ​no,​ ​no,​ ​no.... 
 
LEVI 
Mutter....​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​Mutter.... 
 
KATHERINE 
This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​worst​ ​of​ ​it​ ​all.​ ​ ​Anything​ ​else​ ​I​ ​could​ ​take.​ ​ ​But​ ​now​ ​this.​ ​ ​God 
took​ ​my​ ​daughter!!​ ​ ​How​ ​can​ ​I​ ​bear​ ​this?​ ​ ​How​ ​can​ ​I​ ​ever​ ​get​ ​over​ ​this 
horrible​ ​thing? 
 
Oh,​ ​no,​ ​no,​ ​no,​ ​no.... 
 
AARON 
 79 
We​ ​will​ ​get​ ​through​ ​this. 
 
KATHERINE 
How?​ ​ ​How​ ​will​ ​we​ ​get​ ​through​ ​this? 
 
AARON 
The​ ​same​ ​way​ ​we​ ​get​ ​through​ ​all​ ​tribulations.​ ​ ​Our​ ​faith​ ​in​ ​God. 
 
KATHERINE 
What​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​God​ ​allows​ ​such​ ​a​ ​thing​ ​to​ ​happen? 
 
AARON 
No​ ​matter​ ​what​ ​God​ ​gives​ ​us,​ ​He​ ​is​ ​showing​ ​us​ ​the​ ​path​ ​we​ ​must​ ​take​ ​in 
life. 
 
KATHERINE 
It’s​ ​a​ ​cruel,​ ​twisted​ ​path. 
 
(​Lights​ ​down.​ ​ ​End​ ​Act​ ​II,​ ​Scene​ ​I.) 
   
 80 
 
ACT​ ​II,​ ​SCENE​ ​II 
 
(A​ ​rooster​ ​crows.​ ​ ​Lights​ ​up​ ​on​ ​Aaron,​ ​Katherine,​ ​Levi,​ ​and 
Sarah.​ ​ ​It​ ​is​ ​morning.​ ​ ​Mary’s​ ​body​ ​has​ ​been​ ​removed​ ​from​ ​the 
table.) 
 
AARON 
But​ ​why​ ​fer​ ​would​ ​Amos​ ​Byler​ ​want​ ​to​ ​hurt​ ​us?​ ​ ​Over​ ​and​ ​over​ ​in​ ​my 
head​ ​I​ ​keep​ ​wonderin’​ ​this. 
 
LEVI 
He’s​ ​frahootled.​ ​ ​Ever​ ​since​ ​his​ ​rumspringa.   
 
AARON 
And​ ​what​ ​was​ ​it​ ​that​ ​Amos​ ​Byler​ ​screamed?​ ​ ​“Ah-mo​ ​faggot.”​ ​ ​Why​ ​would 
he​ ​scream​ ​such​ ​a​ ​thing​ ​at​ ​us? 
 
LEVI 
I....​ ​ ​No,​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know..... 
 
SARAH 
Aaron,​ ​talk​ ​to​ ​you​ ​I​ ​must. 
 
(Sarah​ ​takes​ ​Aaron​ ​out​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​porch,​ ​where​ ​they​ ​talk 
while​ ​Levi​ ​holds​ ​his​ ​mother​ ​as​ ​they​ ​sob​ ​over​ ​Mary. 
Katherine​ ​goes​ ​into​ ​the​ ​pantry​ ​and​ ​takes​ ​out​ ​her 
painting​ ​of​ ​the​ ​farm.) 
 
LEVI 
What​ ​is​ ​this,​ ​Mutter? 
 
KATHERINE 
The​ ​last​ ​painting​ ​I​ ​ever​ ​made.​ ​ ​Of​ ​this​ ​farm.​ ​ ​I​ ​finished​ ​it​ ​the​ ​day​ ​I​ ​met 
your​ ​papa. 
 
LEVI 
Mutter,​ ​just​ ​look!​ ​ ​At​ ​the​ ​colors.​ ​ ​Like​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​the​ ​meadow,​ ​only​ ​it 
shows​ ​what​ ​God​ ​meant​ ​about​ ​the​ ​meadow.​ ​ ​Like​ ​you’re​ ​showin’​ ​what​ ​the 
farm​ ​looks​ ​like​ ​seeing​ ​it​ ​through​ ​your​ ​own​ ​soul. 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​was​ ​saving’​ ​it​ ​for​ ​Mary.​ ​ ​For​ ​when​ ​she​ ​was​ ​married.​ ​ ​To​ ​put​ ​away​ ​and 
remember​ ​me​ ​by​ ​sometimes.​ ​ ​Or​ ​to​ ​sell​ ​if​ ​she​ ​ever​ ​needed​ ​money. 
 
 81 
But​ ​she​ ​won’t​ ​need​ ​it​ ​now. 
 
LEVI 
Oh,​ ​Mutter. 
 
(Lights​ ​down​ ​on​ ​the​ ​kitchen,​ ​up​ ​on​ ​the​ ​porch.)  
 
AARON 
Levi,​ ​come​ ​out​ ​here. 
 
(Levi​ ​enters​ ​the​ ​porch.) 
 
Levi,​ ​Sarah​ ​Miller​ ​says​ ​in​ ​a​ ​car​ ​she​ ​saw​ ​you.​ ​ ​With​ ​Mark​ ​Cummings.​ ​ ​Is 
this​ ​true? 
 
LEVI 
Yah,​ ​well.​ ​ ​Yah.​ ​ ​Yah,​ ​he​ ​gave​ ​me​ ​a​ ​ride​ ​out​ ​here​ ​after​ ​my​ ​rumspringa. 
 
AARON 
But​ ​she​ ​said​ ​in​ ​Shipshewana​ ​she​ ​saw​ ​you.​ ​ ​Getting​ ​in​ ​a​ ​car​ ​with​ ​him 
and​ ​someone​ ​else.​ ​ ​At​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​your​ ​rumspringa. 
 
SARAH 
I​ ​did,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Clear​ ​as​ ​day​ ​I​ ​saw​ ​you.​ ​ ​I​ ​couldn’t​ ​believe​ ​it​ ​was​ ​you,​ ​because 
Englisher​ ​clothes​ ​you​ ​had​ ​on.​ ​ ​But​ ​it​ ​was.​ ​ ​Close​ ​I​ ​looked.​ ​ ​You​ ​saw​ ​me, 
too,​ ​didn’t​ ​you? 
 
AARON 
Thank​ ​you,​ ​Sarah.​ ​ ​Alone​ ​to​ ​my​ ​son​ ​I​ ​need​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​now. 
 
SARAH 
Oh,​ ​I...​ ​ ​Well,​ ​OK.​ ​ ​I’ll​ ​go​ ​in​ ​then,​ ​to​ ​Katherine. 
 
(She​ ​enters​ ​the​ ​kitchen​ ​and​ ​puts​ ​her​ ​arm​ ​around 
Katherine,​ ​who​ ​is​ ​grieving.) 
 
AARON 
What​ ​did​ ​you​ ​do,​ ​Levi?​ ​ ​Fer​ ​your​ ​rumspringa? 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​didn’t​ ​have​ ​to​ ​ask​ ​you​ ​what​ ​I​ ​could​ ​do​ ​and​ ​couldn’t​ ​do.   
 
AARON 
Our​ ​barn​ ​is​ ​burned.​ ​ ​Your​ ​sister​ ​is​ ​dead.​ ​ ​DEAD!​ ​ ​Most​ ​of​ ​our​ ​animals, 
lost.​ ​ ​Did​ ​this​ ​happen​ ​because​ ​of​ ​something​ ​you​ ​did? 
 82 
 
(They​ ​move​ ​to​ ​the​ ​yard.) 
 
LEVI 
Amos​ ​Byler​ ​has​ ​been​ ​burnin’​ ​barns.​ ​ ​The​ ​police​ ​you​ ​should​ ​have​ ​called 
and​ ​had​ ​him​ ​locked​ ​up​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​shunnin’​ ​him.​ ​ ​Or​ ​got​ ​him​ ​help​ ​fer​ ​the 
drugs​ ​and​ ​alcohol.​ ​ ​So​ ​he​ ​couldn’t​ ​kill​ ​my​ ​sister. 
 
AARON 
We​ ​must​ ​never​ ​interfere​ ​with​ ​God’s​ ​will.​ ​ ​This​ ​you​ ​already​ ​know!   
 
LEVI 
Maybe​ ​God​ ​gave​ ​man​ ​a​ ​brain​ ​capable​ ​understanding​ ​how​ ​to​ ​help​ ​people 
addicted​ ​to​ ​drugs.​ ​ ​Like​ ​Amos​ ​Byler​ ​needs. 
 
AARON 
Amos​ ​Byler​ ​and​ ​what​ ​he​ ​did​ ​or​ ​didn’t​ ​do​ ​is​ ​not​ ​my​ ​business.​ ​ ​It​ ​is​ ​God’s 
work​ ​to​ ​punish​ ​him.​ ​ ​Not​ ​mine​ ​nor​ ​the​ ​police​ ​nor​ ​anyone​ ​but​ ​God.​ ​ ​Amos 
Byler​ ​ain’t​ ​my​ ​son.​ ​ ​You​ ​are​ ​my​ ​son.​ ​ ​God​ ​put​ ​you​ ​here​ ​fer​ ​me​ ​to​ ​see 
over.​ ​ ​Now​ ​tell​ ​me.​ ​ ​What​ ​did​ ​you​ ​do​ ​on​ ​your​ ​rumspringa! 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​went​ ​to​ ​New​ ​York.​ ​ ​And​ ​I​ ​stayed​ ​in​ ​a​ ​hotel.​ ​ ​And​ ​ate​ ​in​ ​restaurants. 
And​ ​saw​ ​plays. 
 
AARON 
How​ ​did​ ​you​ ​know​ ​how​ ​to​ ​do​ ​this,​ ​go​ ​to​ ​New​ ​York​ ​and​ ​see​ ​plays? 
 
LEVI 
Some​ ​people​ ​I​ ​went​ ​with.​ ​ ​Who​ ​have​ ​been​ ​there​ ​before.​ ​ ​They​ ​showed​ ​me. 
 
AARON 
And​ ​these​ ​people.​ ​ ​Who​ ​are​ ​they? 
 
LEVI 
Papa,​ ​I.... 
 
(Katherine​ ​and​ ​Sarah​ ​have​ ​heard​ ​what​ ​is​ ​going​ ​on,​ ​and 
they​ ​move​ ​to​ ​the​ ​porch​ ​to​ ​watch.) 
 
AARON 
Your​ ​sister​ ​is​ ​dead!​ ​ ​Who​ ​did​ ​you​ ​go​ ​with?? 
 
LEVI 
Mark​ ​Cummings.​ ​ ​And​ ​his​ ​partner​ ​Tim. 
 83 
 
AARON 
So.​ ​ ​So.... 
 
LEVI 
Papa,​ ​I’m​ ​so​ ​sorry.... 
 
AARON 
So.​ ​ ​And​ ​did​ ​Amos​ ​Byler​ ​see​ ​you?​ ​ ​With​ ​the​ ​abomination? 
 
LEVI 
Together​ ​he​ ​saw​ ​us.​ ​ ​He​ ​yelled​ ​bad​ ​things​ ​at​ ​us.​ ​ ​Mark​ ​said​ ​he​ ​needed​ ​a 
psychiatrist.​ ​ ​So​ ​Amos​ ​screamed​ ​that​ ​he​ ​would​ ​get​ ​even​ ​with​ ​us.... 
 
AARON 
Levi.​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​God,​ ​Son.​ ​ ​Levi. 
 
LEVI 
Papa,​ ​I.... 
 
AARON 
I​ ​forbade​ ​you​ ​to​ ​see​ ​this​ ​Mark​ ​person.​ ​ ​And​ ​I​ ​forbade​ ​you​ ​to​ ​see​ ​plays. 
Didn’t​ ​I? 
 
LEVI 
Yah,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​Yah. 
 
AARON 
With​ ​that​ ​abomination​ ​you​ ​went​ ​anyway. 
 
LEVI 
He​ ​isn’t​ ​what​ ​you​ ​think.​ ​ ​He’s​ ​a​ ​good​ ​person. 
 
AARON 
What​ ​he​ ​is​ ​or​ ​isn’t​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​care.​ ​ ​I​ ​only​ ​care​ ​about​ ​you​ ​and​ ​the​ ​rest​ ​of​ ​my 
family. 
 
If​ ​you​ ​had​ ​not​ ​disobeyed​ ​me,​ ​your​ ​sister​ ​would​ ​still​ ​be​ ​alive​ ​now.​ ​ ​Yah? 
 
LEVI 
Not​ ​if​ ​it’s​ ​God’s​ ​plan. 
 
AARON 
Is​ ​it​ ​God’s​ ​plan​ ​you​ ​should​ ​cause​ ​your​ ​sister’s​ ​death? 
 
 84 
LEVI 
No,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​No.​ ​ ​It​ ​was​ ​Amos​ ​Byler. 
 
AARON 
Your​ ​actions​ ​caused​ ​your​ ​sister’s​ ​death.​ ​ ​When​ ​your​ ​actions​ ​cause 
another’s​ ​death,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​be​ ​shunned. 
 
(​Katherine​ ​moves​ ​into​ ​the​ ​house​ ​to​ ​retrieve​ ​the​ ​painting.​ ​ ​She 
brings​ ​it​ ​out​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​porch.) 
 
LEVI 
You​ ​would​ ​go​ ​against​ ​me​ ​in​ ​this​ ​way?​ ​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​you​ ​would​ ​never​ ​do 
such​ ​a​ ​thing.​ ​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​we​ ​were​ ​friends. 
 
KATHERINE 
Look.​ ​ ​Husband.​ ​ ​I’ve​ ​been​ ​hiding​ ​this​ ​from​ ​you.​ ​ ​The​ ​painting​ ​I​ ​finished 
the​ ​day​ ​we​ ​met. 
 
AARON 
Why​ ​do​ ​you​ ​bring​ ​this​ ​out​ ​now?​ ​ ​Can’t​ ​you​ ​see​ ​with​ ​my​ ​son​ ​I’m​ ​busy? 
 
KATHERINE 
Because.​ ​ ​I​ ​will​ ​trade​ ​it.​ ​ ​For​ ​my​ ​son.​ ​ ​Please​ ​don’t​ ​shun​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​Please. 
And​ ​I​ ​will​ ​give​ ​you​ ​this.​ ​ ​We​ ​have​ ​already​ ​lost​ ​our​ ​daughter. 
 
AARON 
Your​ ​painting​ ​wrap​ ​back​ ​up​ ​in​ ​that​ ​blanket​ ​and​ ​put​ ​it​ ​on​ ​the​ ​pantry 
shelf​ ​where​ ​you​ ​keep​ ​it. 
 
KATHERINE 
This​ ​is​ ​all​ ​I​ ​have​ ​left​ ​of​ ​my​ ​past.​ ​ ​Of​ ​the​ ​person​ ​I​ ​used​ ​to​ ​be. 
 
But​ ​I​ ​am​ ​willing​ ​to​ ​burn​ ​it.​ ​ ​To​ ​never,​ ​ever​ ​think​ ​of​ ​that​ ​time​ ​again.​ ​ ​If 
you​ ​will​ ​only​ ​please​ ​not​ ​do​ ​this​ ​to​ ​Levi. 
 
LEVI 
Mutter!​ ​ ​You​ ​would​ ​do​ ​this​ ​fer​ ​me? 
 
AARON 
Wife,​ ​put​ ​it​ ​away.​ ​ ​It​ ​has​ ​nothin’​ ​to​ ​do​ ​with​ ​this. 
 
Levi!​ ​ ​You​ ​are​ ​shunned! 
 
LEVI 
How​ ​long,​ ​Papa?​ ​ ​How​ ​long​ ​am​ ​I​ ​shunned? 
 85 
 
AARON 
Psalm​ ​27:11​ ​tells​ ​us,​ ​“Teach​ ​me​ ​thy​ ​way,​ ​oh​ ​Lord,​ ​and​ ​lead​ ​me​ ​in​ ​a​ ​plain 
path.”​ ​ ​Going​ ​against​ ​what​ ​your​ ​papa​ ​says​ ​is​ ​not​ ​traveling​ ​a​ ​plain​ ​path. 
 
LEVI 
How​ ​long,​ ​Papa? 
 
AARON 
Fer​ ​six​ ​months​ ​you​ ​are​ ​shunned.​ ​ ​Shun​ ​you​ ​forever​ ​I​ ​should.​ ​ ​Ban​ ​you 
from​ ​being​ ​Amish.​ ​ ​But​ ​fer​ ​you​ ​God​ ​has​ ​put​ ​pity​ ​in​ ​my​ ​heart.​ ​ ​Because 
you’re​ ​my​ ​only​ ​son. 
 
KATHERINE 
Oh,​ ​no,​ ​Aaron.​ ​ ​You​ ​cannot​ ​do​ ​this.​ ​ ​Six​ ​months! 
  
AARON 
Wife!​ ​ ​Please!​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​hard​ ​enough.​ ​ ​Understand.​ ​ ​Levi​ ​must​ ​learn. 
 
(Katherine​ ​goes​ ​into​ ​the​ ​house,​ ​where​ ​she​ ​sobs.​ ​ ​Sarah 
goes​ ​in​ ​to​ ​comfort​ ​her.) 
 
​ ​AARON 
Six​ ​months.​ ​ ​No​ ​talkin’.​ ​ ​To​ ​anyone.​ ​ ​And​ ​no​ ​meals​ ​with​ ​us.​ ​ ​Because​ ​of 
your​ ​actions,​ ​your​ ​sister​ ​is​ ​dead! 
 
LEVI 
You’re​ ​not​ ​really​ ​my​ ​friend.​ ​ ​Like​ ​I​ ​thought.​ ​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​we​ ​were​ ​best 
friends.​ ​ ​Now​ ​all​ ​alone​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world​ ​I​ ​feel. 
 
AARON 
Alone?​ ​ ​We’re​ ​all​ ​alone!   
 
Life​ ​shuns​ ​us​ ​all,​ ​Son.​ ​ ​The​ ​only​ ​real​ ​thing​ ​we​ ​have,​ ​the​ ​only​ ​thing​ ​to 
count​ ​on,​ ​is​ ​God 
 
Levi,​ ​you​ ​are​ ​shunned. 
 
LEVI 
No.​ ​ ​I​ ​will​ ​not​ ​agree​ ​to​ ​this.​ ​ ​My​ ​sister’s​ ​death​ ​I​ ​did​ ​not​ ​cause.​ ​ ​Be​ ​blamed 
fer​ ​actions​ ​that​ ​are​ ​not​ ​mine?​ ​ ​No,​ ​this​ ​I​ ​will​ ​not​ ​do. 
 
AARON 
I​ ​am​ ​the​ ​papa​ ​of​ ​this​ ​house.​ ​ ​You​ ​will​ ​do​ ​as​ ​I​ ​say.​ ​ ​You​ ​have​ ​no​ ​choice. 
 
 86 
LEVI 
I​ ​haven’t​ ​been​ ​baptized​ ​yet.​ ​ ​So​ ​I’m​ ​not​ ​Amish.​ ​ ​So​ ​you​ ​can’t​ ​shun​ ​me 
from​ ​the​ ​order.​ ​ ​And​ ​even​ ​if​ ​I​ ​was​ ​Amish,​ ​only​ ​the​ ​bishop​ ​can​ ​shun​ ​me.   
 
It’s​ ​just​ ​like​ ​the​ ​sinkhole​ ​and​ ​Moses​ ​Beachey.​ ​ ​You​ ​just​ ​use​ ​shunning​ ​to 
try​ ​to​ ​control​ ​me. 
 
AARON 
I​ ​use​ ​shunning​ ​to​ ​teach​ ​you.​ ​ ​Like​ ​all​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​papas.   
 
You​ ​are​ ​shunned​ ​fer​ ​six​ ​months.​ ​ ​You​ ​have​ ​no​ ​choice​ ​in​ ​this. 
 
LEVI 
A​ ​choice​ ​I​ ​do​ ​have.​ ​ ​A​ ​choice​ ​to​ ​leave.​ ​ ​To​ ​not​ ​be​ ​baptized. 
 
AARON 
No!​ ​ ​You​ ​can’t​ ​do​ ​this.​ ​ ​To​ ​your​ ​mutter​ ​you​ ​would​ ​hurt​ ​her​ ​heart​ ​after​ ​her 
daughter​ ​dies?  
 
LEVI 
You​ ​went​ ​against​ ​me!​ ​ ​You,​ ​my​ ​best​ ​friend!   
 
You​ ​betray​ ​me​ ​by​ ​blaming​ ​me​ ​fer​ ​something​ ​I​ ​did​ ​not​ ​do. 
 
I’m​ ​leavin’​ ​home,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​And​ ​the​ ​order. 
 
AARON 
You​ ​can’t​ ​mean​ ​such​ ​a​ ​thing. 
 
This​ ​is​ ​what​ ​I​ ​thought​ ​fer​ ​our​ ​life.​ ​ ​You​ ​and​ ​me​ ​workin’​ ​shoulder​ ​to 
shoulder​ ​till​ ​I​ ​can’t​ ​work​ ​no​ ​more.​ ​ ​And​ ​then​ ​you​ ​takin’​ ​care​ ​of​ ​me.​ ​ ​And 
your​ ​wife​ ​helpin’​ ​Mutter​ ​in​ ​the​ ​house. 
 
LEVI 
Maybe​ ​God​ ​has​ ​a​ ​different​ ​path​ ​fer​ ​my​ ​life. 
 
AARON 
What?​ ​ ​Writing​ ​down​ ​plays?​ ​ ​Having​ ​homosexual​ ​friends? 
 
LEVI 
Is​ ​this​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​way?​ ​ ​That​ ​I​ ​must​ ​marry​ ​a​ ​girl​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​love,​ ​so​ ​you​ ​can 
have​ ​a​ ​bigger​ ​farm?   
 
That​ ​Mary​ ​must​ ​be​ ​punished​ ​just​ ​fer​ ​funnin’?   
 
 87 
That​ ​I​ ​must​ ​turn​ ​my​ ​back​ ​on​ ​people​ ​who​ ​are​ ​friends​ ​to​ ​me,​ ​because​ ​you 
don’t​ ​understand​ ​them?   
 
And​ ​I​ ​must​ ​give​ ​up​ ​somethin’​ ​that​ ​fills​ ​me​ ​with​ ​such​ ​pure​ ​joy? 
Something​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​see​ ​the​ ​wrong​ ​of​ ​at​ ​all? 
 
AARON 
The​ ​plays​ ​on​ ​the​ ​stage.​ ​ ​That’s​ ​what​ ​this​ ​is​ ​really​ ​about,​ ​isn’t​ ​it?   
 
LEVI 
What​ ​you​ ​think​ ​is​ ​right​ ​fer​ ​you​ ​and​ ​what​ ​is​ ​right​ ​fer​ ​me,​ ​two​ ​different 
things​ ​they​ ​are.​ ​ ​This​ ​doesn’t​ ​make​ ​you​ ​wrong​ ​nor​ ​me​ ​wrong​ ​either​ ​yet. 
 
AARON 
The​ ​Amish​ ​way​ ​is​ ​the​ ​only​ ​path​ ​to​ ​everlasting​ ​life. 
 
LEVI 
You​ ​know​ ​what​ ​the​ ​Catholic​ ​Church​ ​says?​ ​ ​That​ ​they​ ​are​ ​the​ ​only​ ​path 
to​ ​Heaven.​ ​ ​And​ ​the​ ​Baptist​ ​Church?​ ​ ​And​ ​the​ ​Mormons?​ ​ ​And​ ​all 
religions.​ ​ ​They​ ​all​ ​say,​ ​every​ ​single​ ​one,​ ​that​ ​they​ ​are​ ​the​ ​only​ ​true​ ​path 
to​ ​Heaven.​ ​ ​Just​ ​like​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​say.   
 
AARON 
The​ ​Amish​ ​way​ ​IS​ ​the​ ​only​ ​way.​ ​ ​The​ ​Amish​ ​way​ ​is​ ​supported​ ​right​ ​down 
the​ ​line​ ​by​ ​scripture. 
 
LEVI 
It​ ​seems​ ​to​ ​me​ ​all​ ​religions​ ​are​ ​sayin’,​ ​“If​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​shop​ ​at​ ​our​ ​church, 
you’ll​ ​go​ ​to​ ​hell.” 
 
AARON 
Levi!​ ​ ​You​ ​would​ ​make​ ​worshipping​ ​God​ ​so​ ​crass?​ ​ ​True​ ​faith​ ​is​ ​believing 
in​ ​God​ ​no​ ​matter​ ​what.​ ​ ​“Blessed​ ​are​ ​they​ ​who​ ​cannot​ ​see​ ​yet​ ​still 
believe.” 
 
LEVI 
This​ ​is​ ​what​ ​I​ ​believe,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​I​ ​believe​ ​God​ ​is​ ​a​ ​mountain.​ ​ ​I​ ​believe​ ​the 
Amish​ ​way​ ​is​ ​one​ ​path​ ​to​ ​the​ ​top.​ ​ ​But​ ​there​ ​are​ ​other​ ​paths.​ ​ ​Many​ ​ways 
God​ ​has​ ​provided​ ​fer​ ​us​ ​to​ ​understand​ ​Him. 
 
AARON 
Is​ ​this​ ​the​ ​ideas​ ​your​ ​plays​ ​on​ ​a​ ​stage​ ​put​ ​into​ ​your​ ​head?​ ​ ​All​ ​your​ ​life,​ ​I 
have​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​you​ ​safe​ ​from​ ​such​ ​thoughts. 
 
So​ ​now,​ ​you​ ​think​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​way​ ​is​ ​wrong??!! 
 88 
 
LEVI 
No!​ ​ ​Oh,​ ​no,​ ​Papa.​ ​ ​Not​ ​wrong.​ ​ ​Not​ ​fer​ ​you​ ​or​ ​anyone​ ​else​ ​who​ ​wants​ ​to 
follow​ ​the​ ​church. 
 
But​ ​maybe​ ​it​ ​isn’t​ ​right​ ​fer​ ​me. 
 
AARON 
Not​ ​right!​ ​ ​Levi!! 
 
LEVI 
Our​ ​fathers’​ ​fathers​ ​in​ ​Europe​ ​were​ ​tortured.​ ​ ​Burned​ ​at​ ​the​ ​stake. 
Stoned. 
 
AARON 
That’s​ ​why​ ​we​ ​left​ ​Europe​ ​fer​ ​to​ ​come​ ​to​ ​the​ ​United​ ​States. 
 
LEVI 
And​ ​fer​ ​what?​ ​ ​Because​ ​the​ ​Amish​ ​believe​ ​we​ ​must​ ​be​ ​adult​ ​to​ ​make​ ​a 
decision​ ​to​ ​be​ ​baptized​ ​and​ ​to​ ​follow​ ​the​ ​faith. 
 
Well,​ ​now​ ​I​ ​am​ ​adult.​ ​ ​And​ ​I’m​ ​making​ ​that​ ​decision. 
 
AARON 
Levi,​ ​no…. 
 
(Aaron​ ​reaches​ ​out​ ​to​ ​Levi,​ ​but​ ​Levi​ ​turns​ ​his​ ​back, 
shunning​ ​his​ ​father.​ ​ ​Broken,​ ​Aaron​ ​goes​ ​into​ ​the​ ​house. 
Katherine​ ​comes​ ​out​ ​onto​ ​the​ ​porch​ ​carrying​ ​the 
painting.) 
 
KATHERINE 
You’re​ ​leaving,​ ​Son? 
 
LEVI 
Mutter!​ ​ ​No​ ​more​ ​I​ ​can’t​ ​stay​ ​here​ ​yet. 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​know​ ​you​ ​love​ ​it​ ​here,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​The​ ​farm.​ ​ ​The​ ​horses.​ ​ ​Everything.​ ​ ​Us. 
 
But​ ​if​ ​you​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​this​ ​is​ ​your​ ​world,​ ​then​ ​go​ ​make​ ​your​ ​world​ ​exactly 
what​ ​you​ ​want​ ​it​ ​to​ ​be.   
 
LEVI 
I​ ​love​ ​the​ ​farm,​ ​though. 
 89 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​loved​ ​the​ ​life​ ​I​ ​had​ ​before​ ​coming​ ​here,​ ​too.​ ​ ​My​ ​career.​ ​ ​And​ ​my 
parents.​ ​ ​But​ ​I​ ​love​ ​you​ ​even​ ​more.​ ​ ​And​ ​your​ ​Papa. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​know​ ​you​ ​do,​ ​Mutter. 
 
KATHERINE 
You’re​ ​finding​ ​out.​ ​ ​All​ ​of​ ​life​ ​is​ ​giving​ ​up​ ​one​ ​thing​ ​for​ ​another.​ ​ ​You​ ​have 
to​ ​do​ ​what​ ​your​ ​heart​ ​thinks​ ​is​ ​right.​ ​ ​Isn’t​ ​that​ ​what​ ​your​ ​rumspringa 
was​ ​for,​ ​Levi? 
 
LEVI 
It’s​ ​so​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​know​ ​what​ ​is​ ​right.​ ​ ​Such​ ​a​ ​gift​ ​you​ ​had.​ ​ ​And​ ​you​ ​gave​ ​it 
all​ ​up. 
 
KATHERINE 
To​ ​have​ ​a​ ​life​ ​with​ ​you.​ ​ ​And​ ​your​ ​papa.​ ​ ​And​ ​Mary. 
 
 
LEVI 
But​ ​your​ ​heart,​ ​doesn’t​ ​it​ ​hurt,​ ​not​ ​using​ ​the​ ​gift​ ​you​ ​were​ ​born​ ​with? 
 
KATHERINE 
Yes.​ ​ ​Yes​ ​it​ ​does.​ ​ ​But​ ​it​ ​would​ ​hurt​ ​my​ ​heart​ ​to​ ​turn​ ​away​ ​from​ ​your 
Papa,​ ​too. 
 
LEVI 
Both​ ​things​ ​hurt​ ​you.​ ​ ​How​ ​do​ ​you​ ​choose​ ​which​ ​hurt​ ​to​ ​endure? 
 
KATHERINE 
When​ ​I’m​ ​on​ ​my​ ​death​ ​bed,​ ​who​ ​do​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​surrounded​ ​by?​ ​ ​Art 
critics?​ ​ ​Strangers​ ​who​ ​bought​ ​my​ ​paintings​ ​over​ ​the​ ​years?​ ​ ​People​ ​who 
love​ ​my​ ​talent​ ​but​ ​don’t​ ​care​ ​about​ ​me?​ ​ ​Piles​ ​of​ ​money? 
 
No. 
 
I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​surrounded​ ​by​ ​love.​ ​ ​My​ ​husband.​ ​ ​Memories​ ​of​ ​my​ ​children. 
Because​ ​in​ ​the​ ​end,​ ​how​ ​much​ ​you​ ​love​ ​and​ ​are​ ​loved​ ​is​ ​all​ ​that​ ​really 
matters. 
 
LEVI 
So​ ​much​ ​to​ ​think​ ​on,​ ​it​ ​frahootles​ ​me. 
 
 90 
KATHERINE 
Levi,​ ​maybe​ ​the​ ​answer​ ​is​ ​different​ ​for​ ​every​ ​person.​ ​ ​Maybe​ ​there’s​ ​more 
than​ ​one​ ​way​ ​to​ ​serve​ ​God. 
 
The​ ​promise​ ​I​ ​made​ ​to​ ​your​ ​father,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​God,​ ​was​ ​that​ ​I​ ​would​ ​love​ ​him 
and​ ​remain​ ​Amish​ ​forever.​ ​ ​But​ ​you,​ ​Son.​ ​ ​You​ ​have​ ​not​ ​made​ ​that 
promise​ ​yet.​ ​ ​So​ ​now​ ​is​ ​the​ ​time​ ​for​ ​you​ ​to​ ​decide​ ​what​ ​your​ ​life​ ​will​ ​be. 
 
(She​ ​gives​ ​him​ ​the​ ​painting.) 
 
This​ ​is​ ​for​ ​you,​ ​Levi. 
 
LEVI 
You​ ​would​ ​give​ ​me​ ​this? 
 
KATHERINE 
I​ ​will​ ​think​ ​of​ ​you​ ​having​ ​it.​ ​ ​And​ ​maybe​ ​you’ll​ ​think​ ​of​ ​me​ ​sometimes. 
Or​ ​if​ ​someday​ ​you​ ​need​ ​money​ ​to​ ​get​ ​by,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​sell​ ​it.   
 
LEVI 
But​ ​it’s​ ​worth​ ​so​ ​much​ ​money,​ ​Mutter. 
 
KATHERINE 
In​ ​that​ ​way,​ ​I’ll​ ​think​ ​I​ ​was​ ​a​ ​good​ ​mutter​ ​to​ ​you.​ ​ ​Even​ ​though​ ​maybe​ ​I 
was​ ​so​ ​different​ ​from​ ​the​ ​other​ ​Amish​ ​mutters,​ ​I​ ​embarrassed​ ​you 
sometimes. 
 
LEVI 
Mutter!​ ​ ​Thank​ ​you.​ ​ ​You​ ​humble​ ​me. 
 
You​ ​could​ ​leave,​ ​too,​ ​Mutter.​ ​ ​You’re​ ​famous​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world. 
 
KATHERINE 
Oh….​ ​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​My​ ​heart​ ​rises​ ​and​ ​sets​ ​with​ ​your​ ​papa,​ ​like​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​shining 
in​ ​my​ ​face.​ ​ ​I’m​ ​filled​ ​up​ ​with​ ​our​ ​life​ ​together​ ​here.​ ​ ​The​ ​beauty​ ​I​ ​tried​ ​to 
portray​ ​in​ ​my​ ​paintings​ ​is​ ​all​ ​around​ ​me,​ ​changing​ ​with​ ​every​ ​season.   
 
I​ ​know​ ​sometimes​ ​you​ ​think​ ​your​ ​papa​ ​is​ ​harsh.​ ​ ​But​ ​it​ ​was​ ​just​ ​out​ ​of 
love​ ​for​ ​you,​ ​Levi. 
 
LEVI 
He​ ​went​ ​against​ ​me. 
 
KATHERINE 
He​ ​tries​ ​to​ ​do​ ​what​ ​he​ ​feels​ ​is​ ​right.​ ​ ​Even​ ​when​ ​it​ ​kills​ ​him​ ​inside. 
 91 
 
LEVI 
He​ ​blames​ ​me​ ​fer​ ​Mary’s​ ​death. 
 
KATHERINE 
Find​ ​it​ ​in​ ​your​ ​heart​ ​to​ ​forgive​ ​him​ ​someday,​ ​Levi.​ ​ ​And​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​when 
you​ ​give​ ​up​ ​something​ ​you​ ​love​ ​this​ ​much,​ ​you​ ​love​ ​the​ ​thing​ ​you’re 
running​ ​to​ ​even​ ​more. 
 
LEVI 
I​ ​think​ ​I​ ​do,​ ​Mutter.​ ​ ​Mother. 
 
(They​ ​hug​ ​each​ ​other​ ​desperately​ ​as​ ​the​ ​lights​ ​fade​ ​to​ ​a 
spot​ ​on​ ​them.) 
 
Oh,​ ​God.​ ​ ​I​ ​hope​ ​I​ ​do…. 
 
(The​ ​spot​ ​fades.​ ​ ​Curtain.)