SCENE: Same as Part I. Emma looking out the window. (Present)

Emma: Here comes Eliza Snow and the Partridge girls. (Pause, lights change. She turns.) Oh, Joseph, I can’t believe it….

(Scene fades to old Smith home kitchen. It is late in the evening. Emma enters with a shawl and sits in a rocking chair. Enter Melissa Lott)

Melissa: Are you going to sit up, Sister Smith? I’ll poke up the fire before I go to bed.

Emma: No, it’s fine, Melissa. I’ll sit up and wait for my husband. I imagine he’ll be home before too long. The coals are nice.

Melissa: Good night, Sister Smith.

Emma: Good night, Melissa. (Melissa exits)

(Emma hums softly to herself as she rocks. The lights dim further. Joseph enters, she stirs.)

Emma: Oh, Joseph, you’re home!

Joseph: Yes, finally. It’s been a long day.

Emma: Yes, it has. Are you hungry? Sit down.

Joseph: There is heaviness in the night air. I’m weary. Emma, my love for you is beyond reason…and yours for me as great. Yet, when I most need to open my heart, I am afraid.

Emma: Oh, my love, not afraid to talk to me!

Joseph: You are a good wife, like Sarah of old. (She sits at his feet and puts her head against his knees) Emma, do you trust me?

Emma: Yes, yes, of course.

Joseph: The Lord has spoken to me from time to time and it is not always easy to abide his counsel, but I know I must.

Emma: Yes, you must.

Joseph: Emma, the time has come for the restoration of all things.

Emma: (She smiles, delighted) Oh, Joseph, how wonderful.

Joseph: Emma, the Lord has commanded me, at the peril of my salvation, to do a very difficult thing and I must do it. Do you believe that?

Emma: Yes.

Joseph: I’ve been commanded to enter into the old order of marriage. To take other wives, besides you, as did the prophets of the early dispensations. Well? What do you say?

Emma: What! What can I say? I don’t believe it! Joseph, you have been so weary lately. You must have grown weak. It must be an evil voice that whispers this to you.

Joseph: Not a whisper, but an Angel of the Lord with a sword ready, Emma.

Emma: No! How can you, a prophet of God, speak of such things? Joseph, I can’t believe you could ever be evil.

Joseph: It isn’t evil. I have lived in wakeful dying for these days, not daring to tell you, not knowing what to say. I have been commanded three times. Upon this law hangs all my priesthood…. It is the Lord’s will that you should be my partner and companion always. Believe me, Emma, and help me.

Emma: Can it be that only today you smoothed my hair and told me of your love? What have I done that you should desire another? That you should put me aside so easily?

Joseph: Emma, I do love you. This principle puts no one aside. You shall be my wife forever, my queen. My love will never lessen for you, but will grow forever. Bear with me, help me, I am bound. Come and pray with me.

Emma: No—I cannot pray to God for this. You pray to be rid of this delusion! Let me pray for that. I think you really believe it, but it cannot be. Oh, Joseph, are you a fallen prophet? No—only tired.

Joseph: Emma, you shall obey me. When you have thought awhile, we will talk again. Above all, I love you. Only the will of my Redeemer would move me to do this. Think of my sorrow, that you, who have always been my friend, should fail me now, at the beginning of the darkest hour.

Emma: Oh, I have believed in you—till now…but, not this, how can I?

Joseph: Can you draw a line between truth and truth, to believe one and not the other? Can you feel the spirit and yet deny that what I have told you is the truth? If only this mortal hand could pass across your eyes and open them to eternity, to see beyond. To see translucent white in joy and singing in love. Oh, my beloved, in those endless hours beyond the earth our arms shall encircle one another, and those, thy sisters shall but add new joy to share a hundred fold. Our love is great enough to share.

When I sat at your father’s table and first beheld you as you entered between white curtains, your hands more like fine china than the white bowl they held, I loved you with a quickening of breath and spirit that grew as it listened to your soft words. But when you lay white against muslin, with a dead child to wash with tears, I loved you more, because you smiled, and trembling whispered that you loved me, was I well? One cold night we drove through rain in haste, in fear. You held the reins and worked beside me in our desperation. I loved you then with greatness beyond all previous passion.

When all the world has screamed at me in my dreams and made faces as I died, Oh, Emma, you were ever there in those horrible fantasies, grasping my hand, your face upon my shoulder, whispering, “I love you, I love you.”

As I came to understand what I must do, and even then hid my heart from action, I pled for your heart to understand. My love has cost me dearly, nearly more than I could have paid.

Understand! Try to feel the spirit and understand. For, oh, my darling, what poor joy I’ll feel through tears. Stand beside me as my consort and share my kingdom. For I shall always love you, as I have loved you in my deepest need.

Emma: Oh, my Darling. My Darling! (She exits)

(Several hours have passed. Joseph is still sitting up in the chair. Emma comes in.)

Emma: Joseph, won’t you come to rest? The room is cold. You are so weary. I have wept tonight, and prayed. I cannot understand, yet some soft voice induces me to trust you.

If I must die inside, I will to live with you after. (Kneels before him and takes his face in her hands) You are the sun that warms my breath. I have struggled in the loneness of my hours. If I must lose you in part to keep you…It has always been so.

Promise me that we will be eternal, that I will never have to face the cold ashes of myself devoid of you. Promise me one hand to hold always.

When I dream of life beyond in some vast open place…alone…I hear screaming, my own voice ringing from a hidden chamber and I cry back, “Where is my soul?” But, there are no doors to open. My voice comes from somewhere beyond the time, somewhere below the expanse of memory. Oh, my love, you are all my soul.

Joseph: I promise you that if it is in the power of Heaven I’ll have you by my side forever. If I must search for you in the vortex, I’ll find you and bring you to me. But, if you are faithful and answer to the spirit that stands waiting at your shoulder, we shall never be apart.

Emma: Then, if it must be, let me share this new thing, only promise to never leave me, and I shall do my best, though it takes all my heart.

(Scene returns to present)

(The Partridge sisters and Eliza Snow enter)

Eliza S.: Emma, we’ve come to say good-bye to you, and to wish you well.

Emily: Can’t you reconsider and come with us? Think of the others. We all need you.

Emma: No, no one needs me now. Perhaps, my children…but not them (she motions toward the window) Needing is dead now. There is nothing to need.

Emily: We will miss you, Emma. Remember what friends we were once.

Emma: I’ll remember you. You are stronger women than I. You’ll keep going.

Eliza P.: Sister Smith, we would like to see our husband’s things once more, and, if you wouldn’t mind, perhaps we could take some remembrance, some small thing.

Emma: Look around. You know what was his. Can you remember his laughter in these rooms, or his hands on those books, or his feet on the carpet. Look around. This was his chair. He loved to sit before the fire in the evening. And this is a walking stick he used. Here…his tinder box….This rug; I used to sit before him on this rug and rest my head against his knee…Once I did. There were not many times. Are you here to take his things away. I suppose you’d like his cup, perhaps his shoes. Yes, I imagine even his night shirt. Eliza would like that. Well, she won’t have it now.

I was the woman he loved. Don’t forget that. No matter who he took to marry, he loved me and only me. Go away; find a new Zion. Wives, you call yourselves. Do you weep, do you mourn? No, you soon turn your eyes to a new prophet. Go ahead and marry him. Joseph was my prophet. I’ll stay where he is. You expect to take him with you. No. He’ll stay. Go on to your new Zion. I’ll stay here with my husband.

Emily: Then good-bye, Emma. (The Partridge sisters exit. Eliza Snow stays)

Emma: I sent them away before. (The scene fades, Emma and Joseph are on stage)

Emma: But, I must choose the girl. It’s only fair that I be able to do that.

Joseph: Yes, if you’ll do so in the proper spirit, you may. Then, Emma, you must teach her the principle.

Emma: Oh, Joseph, enough is enough! How can I do that?

Joseph: Don’t you believe it enough to teach it?

Emma: Oh, I don’t know. Yes, yes I do.

Joseph: Have you thought of anyone?

Emma: Yes, I thought of Emily and Eliza; we have been such good friends.

(Fade. The scene changes. Emily and Eliza are entering. Emma is seated.)

Emma: Emily, Eliza, please come in and sit down. I want to speak with you.

Emily: Thank you. Oh, it’s such a nice evening.

Emma: Yes. Have you heard any rumors of the principle of plural wives? (Sisters look at each other and do not answer. Pause) Well, perhaps not. A new and everlasting principle has been revealed to the Prophet. Like the patriarchs of old, Abraham, Jacob. A system under which a worthy man might have two or more wives, as long as they are legally married under the priesthood and are faithful…for all eternity…. My husband (it is painful for her) has been commanded by the Lord (pause) to marry other wives, worthy women…. He has asked me to choose…and to instruct some such women (pause). I thought of you sweet sisters, we’ve always been close friends. If you would consider…. Naturally, this is a shock to you, but pray about it and you’ll know of its truthfulness.

Emily: We had better think a while.

Emma: Why, certainly. I know how you must feel. (She exits, embarrassed)

Eliza: Well, what a surprise! We’d better talk to Joseph, right away.

Emily: I really didn’t think she’d be able to do it.

Eliza: Well, I’m flattered that she chose us.

Emily: Yes, so am I, but I wish she hadn’t. What are we going to tell her?

Eliza: I expect Joseph will know what to do. He came in not long ago; he must be in the house.

(Joseph enters)

Emily: Oh, Joseph, the strangest thing has happened.

Joseph: Yes, I know. I talked to her last week. She’s been struggling desperately with herself.

Emily: But she’s asked us, Joseph.

Eliza: What are we supposed to do now? You haven’t told her everything.

Emily: When she finds out you’ve already married us….

Joseph: No, she’s got to believe in it first. We’ll go ahead with things. You consent and we’ll be married again.

Eliza: Oh, Joseph, a mock marriage.

Joseph: Yes, Eliza. After she’s used to it, I’ll tell her about you and the others. It’s going to break her heart.

Emily: Oh, I always wanted to be her friend. She’s so wonderful.

Joseph: Yes, she is. Remember now—no one must know. Our enemies will wait like hungry dogs for the smallest morsel. Now please keep your composure and go talk with her.

(Joseph exits and Emma enters through another door)

Emma: Was Joseph here? I thought I just heard him.

Emily: Yes, he just left.

Eliza P.: Sister Emma, we know that what you told us is right and true. We’ll do it.

Emma: Oh! Thank you. You must talk with Joseph now. Excuse me. (She comes forward)

Oh, dear Father, I’d hoped they wouldn’t. Please forgive me. Please give me strength. Help me go through with this. Please.

(Joseph enters, takes her hand, leads her back where a wedding is pantomimed. Apostle Adams performs the ceremony. The stage is darkened, Joseph and Emma conversing come forward.) (Scene fades—light brightens on Joseph and Emma)

Emma: What! Married to them before? Before you ever told me? You let me humiliate myself like that, let me make a fool of myself before them…Acted out a whole wedding just to deceive me…. Well, how many others are there? How many?

Joseph: Emma!

(Emily and Eliza are lighted at the back and Emma turns to them)

Emma: Get out of my house, both of you! This is still my house. Get out of the city and don’t come back!

Joseph: These women are my wives, just as you are.

Emma: No! I am your only wife. Do you hear that? Me, me, only me! Oh, Joseph. (she runs to him) Only me…(Joseph backs off. Partridge sisters exit rear. Hyrum enters front.)

Emma: (Turns) Hyrum!

Hyrum: You know that it’s true. A true revelation from God.

Emma: No!

Hyrum: You know.

Emma: Oh, Hyrum, it’s not so easy for a wife. I can’t believe it’s true.

Hyrum: Be reasonable, Emma. Think how Eliza and Emily must feel, driven from your home like bad women. For heavens sake, let them stay.

Emma: Never! Hyrum Smith! Not in my home. I’ll not have them. Let them go to Carthage. Let them cross the river. I don’t care where, just as long as I never see them again…Them and all the others….. Oh, I’ve heard lovely rumors.

Hyrum: Be careful what you say, Emma. Brigham Young and Heber Kimball both have had witness of the truth.

Emma: Oh, have they? Brigham Young? I should think so. It was probably all his idea to begin with. I suppose you want new wives yourself. Well, you can have them. How nice for you all.

Hyrum: Look, Joseph has written his revelation. There’s even a part just for you, a message to you from God. Let me read it to you.

Emma: No! Don’t stand on my doorstep and preach this silly blasphemy to me. I won’t hear it. Get out, Hyrum, get out! I can’t believe it, I won’t! Leave me alone. I won’t believe it, I won’t!!

(The scene changes to the present. Emma and Eliza Snow are on stage.)

Eliza: May God be with you.

Emma: Eliza.

Eliza: Oh, I would have been your sister a thousand times. There have been moments for us when our fingers touched over the wall and we have wept together. I’ll weep for you again.

Emma: Perhaps if I had your strength.

Eliza: We are all strong women. We’ve had to be. That is what our world has made of us. But none of us can get by without tears. You have a greater weakness, you are too proud for tears and cannot lean your head on any one’s shoulder.

Oh, Emma! Can’t you come with us? Only God and Brigham know what’s going to happen to us now. (Emma shakes her head)

I loved him, too. Oh, yes, Emma, I love him. And I know how you feel. There was so much in him to love. Can’t you see into the future? He’ll be there before us….his spirit in the west.

Emma: How can you speak to me of love for him. Everyone loved him. I lived for him.

Go away to your promised land. Bow and scrape…You remember Joseph, how fine and sweet, yet you let Brigham take his place.

Eliza: Sister, sister, perhaps we will meet in an eternal world and our sorrows will be left behind and our hearts open to each other’s joy.

Emma: Good-bye, Eliza. I wish you God’s blessings.

Eliza: Good-bye, Emma. I wish you were coming.

(Eliza exits).

Emma: No, this is our city and our house. We built them, he and I. I’ll stay here with the dead and dying.