Scene One Scene: New Hope Valley in the mountains of Tennessee. It is a Monday night in mid-July, and a square dance is in progress in the yard of New Hope Church. A fiddler and caller are in the background, and downstage are the participants in the dance, the people of the community as on-lookers, the Elders and their wives. At the curtains rise, the dance is underway. Susannah, a young girl of uncommon beauty, is conspicuous in the group by virtue of a brightly-colored dress and the gravitation of men to her square. Her face is flushed with high spirits and excitement, and she is unaware of the eyes upon her. It is early evening, and oil lanterns, hanging from trees, have been lit.
Mrs. Gleaton: It's a hot night for dancin', Ain't no breeze a-stirrin'. Them trees ain't moved all day.
Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. McLean, Mrs. Ott: It shore be still. It shore be still. Mrs. Ott: Its just like before a cloud-burst. When it smells like rain an the air hes heavy But it ain't like that tonight. Its just dry and hot and still.
Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Gleaton, Mrs. Ott: It shore is, it shore is.
Mrs. Hayes: Seems like it's always this way at meetin' time.
Mrs. Gleaton and Mrs. Ott: Don't it now.
Mrs. McLean: Seems like the Lord is bendin' Sinners to his will. Like smokin' a fox out', his hole. The Lord sends the rain On the just an unjust, Jes' like the Good Book says.
Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Gleaton, Mrs. Ott: And us as is saved has got to suffer.
Mrs. McLean: Hear tell the preacher what's comin' Is one what can do just that: Can bring sinners to repentance Like none we ever had.
