Nick Moramarco Directing I; Third Scene Submitted 5-11-09

Buried Child
By Sam Shepard ct II! pp" #$-#%& Ti'den! She''y! Dodge I( )i*en +ircum"tance" ( ,n*ironmenta' -act" 1( Geographical Location ./,D under'ine in "cript0
1hi'e )eographic 2ocation doe" p'ay a 'arge part in genera' in the 3u'' "cript o3 4Buried +hi'd5! it doe" not bear much impact on the action o3 thi" particu'ar "cene( There are *ery 3e6 re3erence" to it throughout the "cene! but here i" one 6hich may be important&

7g( #$! TI2D,N& 48ou dro*e a'' the 6ay 3rom Ne6 Me9ico:5 Thi" 'ine imp'ie" that they are in the ;nited State"! 3ar enough 3rom Ne6 Me9ico that it 6ou'd "eem 'ike <uite a 3eat to dri*e a'' the 6ay 3rom there(

=( Date .B2;, under'ine in "cript0

gain! Date doe" p'ay a 'arge part o3 the bigger "cript o3 the p'ay! it i" not entire'y important to thi" "cene; ho6e*er! re'ati*e time i"( So! not D T, a" it re'ate" to a ca'endar! but Date a" it pertain" to a chrono'ogica' 'i"t o3 e*ent"(

7g( #$! TI2D,N& 48ou dro*e a'' the 6ay 3rom Ne6 Me9ico:5 Thi" 'ine te''" u"! > );,2,8 a" it may be! that 6e are in the in the age o3 the automobi'e! and that it i" a3ter 191= .Me9ico?" admittance into the union(0 7g( ##! S@,228& 41e'' it 6a" probab'y that you "a6 6hat he u"ed to 'ook 'ike( 8ou ha*en?t "een him 3or "i9 year"(5 Thi" 'ine i" important in that it 'et" u" kno6 that Ti'den ha" not "een hi" "on >ince in more than A year"( . gain! important chronological Date0 7g( ##! S@,228& 4I ha*e no idea( I?*e on'y kno6n him 3or a 3e6 month"! my"e'3(5 gain in the chrono'ogy o3 e*ent"! thi" 'ine i" important in indicating that She''y ha" on'y kno6n >ince 3or a *ery "hort time(

$( Economic Environment .B/ N), under'ine in "cript0 7g( #5! S@,228& Cre3erring to her coatD 4No( )o ahead( It?" rabbit(5 Thi" 'ine point" out that She''y i" proud o3 her rabbit coat( It indicate" that "he 'ike" the idea that 3ur i" po"h and trendy! but "he doe" not ha*e the mean" to a33ord ermine or mink 7g( #A! TI2D,N& 48ou?*e got a car:5 S@,228& 4>ince doe"(5 Thi" pair o3 'ine" 3ir"t'y te''" u" that it may not be economica''y commonp'ace 3or e*eryone to o6n a carEand 6e "ee 3rom

She''y?" re"pon"e that "he doe" not; but in"tead! ha" to bum a'ong 6ith >ince( #( Political Environment .8,22B1 under'ine in "cript0 7g( ##! DBD),& 4Ti'den! go out in the kitchen and make me "ome co33eeF 2ea*e the gir' a'one( She?" ner*ou"( She?" ready to Gump "hip any "econd(5 S@,228& 4@e?" a'right(5 Thi" pair o3 'ine" 'et?" u" kno6 that thi" i" an en*ironment 6here Dodge i" in charge( @e?" there! gi*ing the order"! pa""ing Gudgment( @o6e*er! She''y come" right back! 'etting Dodge kno6 that "he i" not going to ac<uie"ce <uiet'y( 7g( #H-#%! TI2D,N& Cre DodgeD 4@e?" the on'y one 6ho kno6" 6here it i"( The on'y one( 2ike a "ecret buried trea"ure( 1on?t te'' any o3 u"(5 gain! thi" 'ine I e*en though gi*en in de3iance o3 Dodge?" po6er I gi*e" u" in"ight into the 3act that Dodge i" ho'ding a'' the card"( Dodge becau"e o3 hi" kno6'edge o3 thi" "ituation ha" a'' the po6er to contro' the 3ami'y( 5( Social Environment .)/,,N under'ine in "cript0
There are "e*era' e9amp'e" o3 Socia' ,n*ironment in thi" "cene! "o I picked a 3e6 key one" to di"cu""(

7g( ##! S@,228 Cre3erencing >inceD& 4It?d be crue' i3 you recogniJed him and didn?t te'' him( 1ou'dn?t be 3air(5 Thi" i" key becau"e it 'et" u" kno6 that >ince and She''y e9pected the member" o3 thi" hou"eho'd .i(e( Dodge and Ti'den0 to kno6 6ho he 6a"( 7g( #5! TI2D,N& 4But there?" certain thing" you can?t te'' me! right:5 S@,228& 4/ight(5 TI2D,N& 4There?" certain thing" I can?t te'' you either(5 Thi" e9change i" crucia' becau"e it e"tab'i"he" the 3act that Ti'den i" hiding a "ecret and i" engaging in "tep" o3 opening up to She''y( 7g( #A! TI2D,N& 4There 6a" nothing I 'o*ed more( Nothing I dreamed o3 6a" better than dri*ing( I 6a" independent(5 1i'd'y important( Thi" 'et" u" kno6 that perhap"! Gu"t perhap"! Ti'den 6a" not a'6ay" a "ocia''y a6k6ard 6eirdo( @e 6a" at 'ea"t at one point a 3u'' human being 6ith pa""ion" and de"ire"( Someho6! She''y ha" "eemed to 6aken the"e in him momentari'y( 7g( #H! DBD),& 4Ti'denF Don?t te'' her anythingF She?" an out"iderF5 Thi" 'ine 3rom Dodge 'et" the audience kno6 Gu"t ho6 con3ining the 6or'd o3 thi" p'ay i"E e"pecia''y 3or Ti'den! 6ho ha" been burdened 6ith thi" "ecret(

A( Religious Environment .7urp'e under'ine in "cript0 7g( #A! TI2D,N& 4I dro*e a'' day 'ong "ometime"E EI 6ou'd "ee thing" I 6a"n?t "uppo"ed to "ee( 2ike Deer( @a6k"( B6'"( I 6ou'd

'ook them in the eye and they 6ou'd 'ook back and I cou'd te'' I 6a"n?t "uppo"ed to be there by the 6ay they 'ooked at me(5 'though not repre"entati*e o3 popu'ar re'igion! thi" 'ine ho'd" in it many my"tica' <ua'itie" o3 the re'igion" o3 many Nati*e merican cu'ture"! e"pecia''y the Na*aGo and the na"aJi& re'igion" in 6hich anima'" .e"pecia''y 'one anima'" in the 6i'derne""0 po""e"" certain god'ike <ua'itie" and po6er"( 7g( #H! TI2D,N& 41e had a baby( 2itt'eE( EKu"t di"appeared( 1e had no "er*ice( No hymn( Nobody came(5 Ti'den?" 'ine here "tre""e" the ab"ence o3 con*entiona' re'igion(

B( 7re*iou" ction There i" a 2BT o3 pre*iou" action to thi" "cene( 2et?" "ee i3 I can boi' do6n "ome o3 the key pre*iou" action( >ince and She''y ha*e Gu"t recent'y arri*ed .a3ter him ha*ing been gone 3or at 'ea"t "i9 year"0 and neither Dodge nor Ti'den remember him( Since their arri*a' .and be3ore thi" "cene "tart"0 >ince ha" "ub"e<uent'y 'e3t She''y a'one in the hou"e 6ith the"e t6o( Ti'den him"e'3 had 'e3t home .Dodge?" home0 3or <uite "ome time 6hen he 6a" younger and more 4independent5! taking a road trip out 6e"t and acro"" the de"ert( ge" ago .perhap" o*er t6enty-3i*e year"0 Ti'den had a chi'd 6hich Dodge ki''ed and buried in the back yard( '' o3 thi" in3ormation bear" importance on the meaning and under"tanding o3 thi" "cene! and a'' o3 thi" in3ormation .more or 'e""0 i" 3ound 6ithin the "cene it"e'3( +( 7o'ar attitude" .7ink high'ighter in "cript0 7g(#5! TI2D,N& 4There?" certain thing" I can?t te'' you either(5 Thi" 'ine denote" Ti'den?" attitude to6ard "haring thing" 6ith She''y( 7g(#H! TI2D,N& 41e had a baby( 2itt'e baby( +ou'd pick it up 6ith one hand( 7ut it in the other( So "ma'' that nobody cou'd 3ind it( Ku"t di"appeared( 1e had no "er*ice( No hymn( Nobody came(5 Thi" 'ine not on'y denote"! but is Ti'den "haring thing" 6ith She''y( Thing" that ha*e <uite a bit o3 6eight( Ti'den ha" been keeping the"e deep terrib'e "ecret" in"ide o3 him 3or the 'onge"t time! and no6 he ha" come to a point 6here he 3ee'" com3ortab'e 'etting them out( Not on'y i" thi" a turning point in hi" attitude to6ard She''y .i(e( te''ing her the 3ami'y "ecret0 but it i" a turning point in hi" attitude to6ard Dodge( @e ha" gone 3rom being he'd do6n by Dodge! near'y "u33ocated! to being in charge o3 him"e'3 I a" he put" it I independentEi3 on'y 3or that "hining moment(

II(

Dia'ogue ( +hoice o3 1ord"

-or the mo"t part! the choice o3 6ord" in thi" "cene are *ery ea"y to under"tand! and are "traight 3or6ard! 6ith perhap" one e9ception(

1( pg ##! DBD),& 4Ti'den! go out in the kitchen and make me "ome co33eeF 2ea*e the gir' a'one( She?" ner*ou"( She?" ready to Gump "hip any "econd(5 Thi" c'ichL i" u"ed to re3erence "omeone 6ho might abandon their p'an o3 action! or their 3riend"( It a''ude" to "omeone Gumping o33 a "inking "hip in order to try and "a*e them"e'*e"( B( +hoice o3 7hra"e" and "entence "tructure The choice o3 phra"e" and "entence "tructure are "uch that the con*er"ation 3'o6" 3air'y 3ree'y( There are *ery 3e6 interruption"! and there are no incongruou" bit" o3 dia'ogue( To6ard the end o3 the "cene! there are e'ement" o3 o*er'apping dia'ogue bet6een Ti'den and Dodge! 6hich 'end" to the bui'd in their po6er-"trugg'e( +( +hoice o3 Image" 7g( #A! TI2D,N& 4I dro*e a'' day 'ong "ometime"( cro"" the de"ert( 1ay out acro"" the de"ertE5 Thi" 6ho'e 'ine I Ti'den?" 'arge mono'ogue I i" one giant 3anta"tic image( The audience "hou'd "ee 6hat it 6a" 'ike to be out in the de"ert( They "hou'd "ee the anima'" Ti'den encountered! and 3ee' 6hat it 6a" 'ike to "ee them "taring back( Thi" i" an image o3 Ti'den?" independence! and it i" *ery important that thi" 3reedom be con*eyed to the audience( 7g( #H! TI2D,N& 41e had a baby( 2itt'e baby( +ou'd pick it up 6ith one hand( 7ut it in the other( So "ma'' that nobody cou'd 3ind it( Ku"t di"appeared( 1e had no "er*ice( No hymn( Nobody cameE(5 Thi" 'ine! and the "erie" that 3o''o6 it! con*ey one o3 the "tronge"t image" not on'y in thi" "cene! but in the 6ho'e p'ay( The dead baby turn" out to be the centra' image o3 the 6ho'e "ho6! and thi" i" the 3ir"t time 6e a" an audience get a detai'ed g'imp"e into the e*ent" that un3o'ded( The audience mu"t S,, the 'itt'e chi'd( They need to "en"e the "trugg'e and angui"h o*er the baby being 'o"t and the "earch partie" coming up 3ruit'e""( nd mo"t important'y! the 'a"t 'ine 42ike a "ecret buried trea"ure5 need" to re"onate "o c'ear'y that the audience can "ee Dodge hidden a6ay at night burying the baby( D( +hoice o3 pecu'iar characteri"tic" There are no out"tanding'y pecu'iar characteri"tic" in the dia'ogue o3 thi" "cene( ,( The "ound o3 the dia'ogue

The "ound o3 the dia'ogue in thi" "cene i" <uite intere"ting( -or the mo"t part! Ti'den ha" many *ery "hort 'ine"! mo"t o33 6hich are <ue"tion"( The"e 'ine" are 6ritten a'mo"t the 6ay a curiou" chi'd 6ou'd in<uire about the 6or'd( Thi" gi*e" credence to Ti'den being p'ayed 6ith a'mo"t a chi'd-'ike menta'ity( In the "ame manner! She''y treat" him a" an e<ua'! that i"! 6ithout humoring or codd'ing him( She i" 3rank and 3orthright 6ith him( @er treatment o3 him a" an e<ua' i" 6hat 'ead" to the mutua' tru"t e"tab'i"hed by the end o3 the "cene( Ti'den a'"o i" *ery repetiti*e( @e ha" 'ine" or part" o3 'ine" that get repeated "e*era' time" e*en( Thi" happen" mo"t o3ten in hi" mono'ogue! and in hi" tirade at the end o3 the "cene( Thi" repetition doe" not "er*e "o much to point out important detai'" to the audience .don?t get me 6rong! it doe" do that0 but more important'y to 'end an idea to the interpretation o3 Ti'den?" character and 6hy he i" the 6ay he i"( Ti'den open" up during hi" mono'ogue! and begin" going on and reaching into hi" memory and hi" emotion( @e "entence" become 'onger! hi" "peech <uicken"( ;nti' Dodge cut" him o33! at 6hich point 6e "ee the "ame pattern" a" be3ore( -( Structure o3 'ine" and "peeche" The "tructure o3 the 'ine" and "peeche" "tart" o33 in <ue"tion"( She''y i" <ue"tioning the other t6o( Thi" turn" into a back and 3orth game bet6een She''y and Ti'den that on t6o occa"ion" i" interrupted by Dodge( The"e interruption" "er*e a" a con"tant reminder to Ti'den o3 Dodge?" pre"ence( The 'ong mono'ogue that Ti'den ha" to6ard the midd'e o3 the "cene break" up the <ue"tioning and "er*e" to 3i'' u" in on Ti'den?" pa""ion" and the independence he once enGoyed( 3ter another interruption by Dodge! it i" back to the She''y Ti'den game unti' "he 6in" and he begin" to te'' hi" "ecret( t thi" point! the 'ine" become <uite 3a"tpaced! and Dodge?" interruption" come o3ten! e*en *io'ent'y! unti' Ti'den ha" triumphed(

III(

Dramatic ction ( Tit'e" o3 the unit" .M part +! Summary o3 the action0

In thi" three per"on "cene! not a'6ay" doe" the $rd per"on .Dodge0 ha*e a nece""ary action! but e*en i3 inacti*e! he a'6ay" ha" a need( I ha*e denoted a" "uch be'o6(

1( >ince 1ho: She''y p'ead" 6ith Ti'den and Dodge Dodge di"mi""e" She''y Ti'den appreciate" She''y =( )etting to Nno6 8ou Ti'den in*e"tigate" She''y She''y a''o6" Ti'den to probe Dodge need" Ti'den to 'ea*e She''y a'one $( The Secret Mentioned Ti'den 6arn" She''y about the e9i"tence o3 the "ecret She''y in*ite" Ti'den to open up to her Dodge need" Ti'den to 'ea*e She''y a'one #( The Te"t Ti'den te"t" She''y?" tru"t o3 him She''y ri"e" to Ti'den?" cha''enge Dodge need" Ti'den to 'ea*e She''y a'one 5( The Dri*er Ti'den paint" She''y a picture o3 hi" 3ormer "e'3 She''y encourage" Ti'den Dodge "hut" Ti'den up A( @e"itation She''y beg" Ti'den to open up Ti'den he"itate" to re*ea' hi" "ecret to She''y Dodge need" Ti'den to "tay <uiet H( The Sho6do6n Ti'den de3ie" Dodge and te''" She''y the "ecret She''y need" Dodge and Ti'den?" 3ight not to e"ca'ate Dodge trie" to "i'ence Ti'den B( Detai'ed breakdo6n o3 the unit"( .Bn copie" o3 "cript0 +( Summary o3 the action .incorporated 6ith part III( (0

I>(

+haracter" ( Ti'den 1( De"ire Ti'den?" main De"ire! both in thi" "cene and the 6ho'e p'ay! i" to gain a 'itt'e o3 hi" independence back by 'etting out the "ecret he ha" been ho'ding in 3or "o 'ong( =( 1i'' Ti'den?" 1i'' ha" been "hattered 'ong ago through "imp'y 'i*ing in thi" hou"e under Dodge?" ru'e( @e ha" Gu"t bare'y enough 1i'' 'e3t 3or She''y to p'uck at( I be'ie*e that 6ithout She''y! Ti'den 6ou'd ha*e had no 1i'' at a'' to obtain hi" De"ire( $( Mora' Stance Ti'den?" Mora' Stance i" <uite di33icu't to a"certain( 1hi'e it "eem" that he i" con"ciou" o3 a "y"tem o3 Mora'" .hi" encounter 6ith the anima'" in the de"ertE kno6ing he 6a"n?t "uppo"ed to be there0! I a'"o think that hi" Mora'" ha*e been "ke6ed o*er the pa"t year" o3 'i*ing 6ith Dodge! "tarting e*en perhap" 6ith the incident o3 the murder o3 the buried chi'd( #( Decorum Ti'den i" in hi" 'ate $0" or perhap" ear'y #0"( @i" o*era'' decorum i" <uite chi'd'ike( @e i" p'ay3u' and curiou" at time"( @e di"p'ay" ner*ou" and e9cited beha*ior throughout the ear'y part o3 the "cene( @o6e*er! 6e a'"o "ee that there are deep "car" that "er*e to "teady him at time" during the "cene( 5( Summary 'i"t o3 adGecti*e" Methodica'! S'o6! +uriou"! 3raid! @e"itant! Di"tant B( She''y 1( De"ire She''y?" De"ire i" to 3ind out the "ecret that thi" hou"eho'd i" trying to keep( She perhap" be'ie*e" that it 6i'' gi*e an e9p'anation 3or 6hy no one "eem" to kno6 >ince( =( 1i'' She''y i" e9treme'y determined to get her De"ire( She "tand" up to Ti'den?" te"t" and gain" hi" tru"t( She acti*e'y be3riend" and e*en encourage" and con"o'e" Ti'den to try and 3ind out hi" "ecret( $( Mora' Stance She''y ha" "ome "ort o3 a Mora' Stance! 6hich i" "ho6n at the beginning o3 the "cene( She "ay"! 4It 6ou'd be crue' i3 you recogniJed him and didn?t te'' him( 1ou'dn?t be 3air(5.p(##0 Thi" Mora' Stance "er*e" a" a Gumping o33 point 3or the re"t o3 She''y?" probe into the "ecret" o3 the 3ami'y( #( Decorum She''y i" young( 7erhap" not e*en =0( She i" pretty! but not nece""ari'y drop-dead gorgeou"( She 'ook" out o3 p'ace in the en*ironment o3 Dodge?" hou"e( @er rabbit coat o33"et" her Gu"t enough to 'ook a6k6ard( She i" compa""ionate to6ard Ti'den?"

"trugg'e 6ith Dodge! but a'"o .mi'd'y0 "ho6" a bit o3 empathyOcompa""ion to6ard Dodge at the end o3 the "cene( 5( Summary 'i"t o3 adGecti*e" Butgoing! Tru"ting! -riend'y! +uriou"! 7retty! Mother'y .to a point0 +( Dodge 1( De"ire Dodge 6ant" nothing more than to keep hi" "ecret a "ecret( =( 1i'' Dodge ha" a *ery >,/8 "trong 1i'' in attaining hi" de"ire .ho6e*er he may not ha*e the phy"ica' capacity to match hi" 1i''0( $( Mora' Stance Dodge?" Mora' Stance i" <uite 'o6( @e 6ou'd "top at nothing to keep hi" "ecret( I be'ie*e that i3 he had the opportunity .and o3 cour"e the phy"ica' "trength0 he 6ou'd ki'' Ti'den to keep him <uiet( #( Decorum Dodge i" in hi" 'ate A0" or ear'y H0"( @e ho6e*er appear" perhap" more decrepit than that( @e ha" 6a"ted a6ay on hi" "o3a and ha" not much "trength 'e3t( @e ha" an a"thma prob'em that "tem" 3rom hi" con"tant "moking( @e a'"o ha" troub'e "tanding and 6a'king( 5( Summary 'i"t o3 adGecti*e" +rotchety! Mean! Determined! +ontro''ing! +rue'! Bitter! Decaying

>(

Idea ( Meaning o3 the tit'e The Meaning o3 4Buried +hi'd5 i" at it" core <uite b'unt( The tit'e immediate'y re3er" to a chi'd! 6hich 6a" ki''ed and buried( Thi" chi'd become" the centra' i""ue and image o3 the p'ay at it" c'ima9( The tit'e a'"o ha" imp'ication" on the character o3 Ti'den( Ti'den him"e'3 i" *ery chi'd'ike! and i" emotiona''y buried in the re"tricti*e atmo"phere o3 Dodge?" hou"e( B( 7hi'o"ophica' "tatement"( )enera''y "peaking! thi" p'ay i" 6ritten in a *ery Natura'i"tic "ty'e! and thu"'y! Shepard i" *ery he"itant about thro6ing in hi" opinion" o3 the 6or'd( B*era''! i3 I had to 'abe' a me""age he might be "ending it 6ou'd be that 6e a" peop'e tend to bury a6ay and 3orget about the thing" in 'i3e that di"turb u"( 7hi'o"ophica''y "peaking! it may be "aid that unti' 6e are ab'e to come to grip" 6ith our pa"t"! 6e may ne*er ha*e a 3u'' 'i3e( I do not kno6 i3 Shepard 6ou'd nece""ari'y agree 6ith the"e "tatement" him"e'3! but I do think that they are *iab'e in"ight" that may be dra6n( +( 7urpo"e o3 "cene in p'ay The purpo"e o3 thi" "cene in the p'ay i" crucia'( Thi" i" the "cene in the p'ay 6here the e"ca'ation to the c'ima9 begin"( Ti'den ha" Gu"t been ab'e to de3y year" o3 Dodge?" oppre""ion! and 3or the 3ir"t time .in god on'y kno6" ho6 'ong0 6e "ee Dodge ri"e o33 the couch( Thi" "cene a'"o 'ay" the ground6ork 3or the 3ina' "cene o3 the "ho6! in 6hich! Ti'den come" in 3rom the yard ha*ing Gu"t unearthed! e9humed! the body o3 hi" dead chi'd(