The three characters in this play are meant to represent the three men in the painting. Sunrise, early summer in 1864. Three men, brother TOM (late 20s) and SAMMY (early 20s), as well as their friend whom they call THOREAU (mid to late 20s), are offstage, sitting in a boat. The boat is just peeking out of stage left against a cloudy dawn backdrop.

THOREAU

(offstage)

We better get out of the boat now; It’s awful shallow.

TOM

(offstage)

Good thinking, Thoreau.

Thoreau and Tom step out of the boat and move towards the front of it. They work in a circulating rhythm: step, step, pull…step, step, pull. They pull the boat onstage enough that Sammy, still sitting in the boat, can be seen. Tom starts pulling a long rope (attached to the boat by the front) out of the boat.

TOM

Sammy, get out of the damn boat.

SAMMY

Can’t.

TOM

Why not?

SAMMY

Feelin’ a little seasick.

TOMMY

Oh, really?

THOREAU

Give him a break, Tom. It was awful windy today. Hell, I almost got seasick myself with all the rockin’ back and forth, back and forth.

SAMMY

Stop it, Thoreau! You’re making it worse.

TOM

Oh, don’t listen to him. He’s just a big baby who doesn’t want to haul in the boat.

Sammy practically jumps out of the boat. By this point, Tom has finished pulling the rope out of the boat.

SAMMY

Am not!

Now feeling the consequences of his actions, SAMMY gags and then throws up into the boat. Tom and Thoreau are disgusted.

TOM

Aw jeez, Sam! You really gotta do that in the boat?

Now we gotta clean it!

SAMMY

My bad.

Sammy goes to sit back in the boat, but is stopped by Thoreau.

THOREAU

You might not want to sit in there.

SAMMY

Why not?

TOM

Boy, you really got the brain of a goldfish, don’t you, Sammy?

SAMMY

My brain is just as good as yours. We got the same parents, after all.

THOREAU

(quietly)

I don’t think that’s how genetics works.

Thoreau’s statement goes unheard by the brothers.

TOM

Well, you must be adopted because our brains are not the same!

Thoreau, used to seeing the two of them fight, tries to break it up before it gets worse.

THOREAU

Now, stop it! Sammy’s probably just tired. (to Sammy) Why don’t you go home and rest, and your brother and I will take care of the boat.

SAMMY

Sounds good to me.

Before Sammy can walk off, he is stopped by Tom.

TOM

Wait! He can’t go! We need three people to carry the boat in.

Sammy groans.

THOREAU

Well, he can have the easy job of guiding the boat out of the water while we tug on the rope.

SAMMY

Alright, then.

Sammy holds on to the boat while Thoreau and Tom each grab a section of the rope, Tom in the front and Thoreau behind him. Once all are in position, Tom yells to them:

TOM

Ready, boys?

THOREAU

Ready.

SAMMY

(begrudgingly)

Yeah.

TOM

3, 2, 1, PULL!

The men pull the boat forward in one, clean motion.

TOM

3, 2, 1, PULL!

They pull the boat forward again, but this time, it doesn’t move.

TOM

What in the hell?

THOREAU

Try it again.

TOM

3, 2, 1, PULL!

The boat still does not move.

THOREAU

Is it stuck on something?

Tom and Thoreau let go of the rope and investigate. They check around the boat.

SAMMY

Can I go home now?

TOM

Shut up, Sammy.

Thoreau lifts up one side of the boat and discovers something.

THOREAU

It’s a rock.

TOM

Really?

THOREAU

Unfortunately.

TOM

Sammy, you were supposed to be looking out for those!

SAMMY

I was?

TOM

That’s part of the back person’s job!

SAMMY

How should I know? I’ve never been the back person! Thoreau’s usually in the back!

TOM

And you’ve never heard him yelling “Go to the right, there’s a rock in the way?”

SAMMY

I don’t think about it, I just do what he says.

Tom visibly heats up, intensely inching toward his brother.

TOM

Well, maybe you should think more.

SAMMY

Well maybe you should lead more, since you appointed yourself the leader. Maybe you shoulda’ told me what my job was.

THOREAU

Guys…

Once again, Thoreau goes ignored.

TOM

I shouldn’t have to explain the jobs. We've been doing this for years!

THOREAU

GUYS!

Thoreau is heard this time. He gets in between the brothers and says:

Fighting isn’t going to get this boat back in the boathouse. Now, we can either get our act together and haul it in, or we can do what my pa said was the most important part of every day: get breakfast.

The mood instantly lightens as everyone gets excited about breakfast.

SAMMY

Well, I sure could go for some pancakes. How about you, Tom?

TOM

Guess it wouldn’t be so bad to take a break. Another cup o’ joe would be nice

The men start to exit stage right.

SAMMY

Wait, what about the boat?

THOREAU

What about it?

SAMMY

What if somebody steals it?

TOM

Sammy, no one’s gonna steal a boat with your vomit in it.

SAMMY

.

What if it floats away?

THOREAU

It’s fully on the shore. It’ll be fine.

SAMMY

Yeah, alright. (beat, has a realization) Wait a minute! You’re called Thoreau because you’re so smart, aren’t you? ‘Cuz Thoreau was smart?

TOM

It took you seven years to realize that?

THOREAU

And because my name’s really Henry David.

The guys continue exiting stage right.

SAMMY

Well, I just learnt about Henry David Thoreau in my new college class.

TOM