TILL

by

Zahra Munir

Based on, Till the Movie

Revisions by

Nida Fatima
Milad Mirykhel
 CHARACTERS
Narrator Roy Bryant (Store owner)
Emmett Till Carolyn (Roy’s wife)
Mamie Bradley (Emmett’s mother) J.W Milam (Roy’s half-brother)
Wheeler Parker Jr. (Emmet’s Judge
cousin) Mr Williams (Mamie’s Lawyer)
Nancy Brown (Emmet’s cousin) Mr Carlton (Roy’s Lawyer)
Robert Davis (Friend) Jury, Guests, Police (Extras)
Moses Wright (Till’s uncle)

SUMMARY
This is the story of the death of 14-year-old Emmett Till, a
Chicago teenager who, while visiting relatives in Money,
Mississippi was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by two white
men in 1955. His murder galvanised the emerging civil rights
movement in the United States.

Act 1 Scene 1
Till and his mother are planning his visit to Mississippi in
the dining room. She is concerned for him and tells him to be
cautious. However, Till has a playful nature and ignores her
warning.
Act 1 Scene 2
They are in the train station saying farewell as Emmet and
Wheeler are going to leave for Money together.
Act 1 Scene 3
Emmet is outside playing and chatting with his friends and
shows them a picture of a white girl, bragging about his
girlfriend back home. His friends don't believe him so they
dare him to talk to the store owner’s wife inside.
He later comes out with a piece of bubble gum. However soon
after Carolyn follows him and makes a big scene outside
blaming him for flirting with her and whistling at her. With
this, the friends run away in laughter.
Act 1 Scene 4
That night, J.W Milam and Roy Bryant break into his house and
kidnap him.
Act 2 Scene 1
Mamie hears the devasting news and insists the body be brought
back. Upon seeing her son’s condition, she is horrified and
plans something to bring attention to her misery.
Act 2 Scene 2
Mamie has a court trial held against Milam and Bryant. They
are not declared as guilty in the court.
Act 2 Scene 3
Mamie has a powerful speech for her son’s funeral in the
church, ending with emotional music. Inside the church, Till’s
casket is left open, and people gather to pray for him.

PLAY
Narrator: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Today as we’re
all gathered here for the Cultural Day, the girls of year 11 A
are going to perform a play based on the life of Emmett Till.

This is a story of a 14-year-old Emmett Till, a Chicago

teenager who was visiting his relatives in Money, Mississippi.
Emmett Till was kidnapped, tortured and murdered brutally by
two white men in 1955. His murder galvanized the emerging
civil rights movements in the United States.

Act I
Scene 1
INT. DINING ROOM

Parker and Mamie are sitting around the dining table.

PARKER
C’mon Aunt Mamie, tons of black families live there, nothing
will happen, you know it.

MAMIE
I know it, that’s why I’m saying it. I’ve lived there Parker,
I know how things are, you know too. I don’t want my boy to go
in that ruthless area. He’s only 14!

PARKER
But it’s been so long since you visited, things have changed.

Emmett enters (stage left) and sits down in the chair.

EMMETT
(To Parker) Did she say yes to going to Money to meet Uncle?

PARKER
Nope! She isn’t agreeing.

EMMETT
(To Mamie) Mama please! I really want to visit Uncle Moses,
can we go please?
MAMIE
Emmett, my dear boy, of course, I want the best for you,
you’re my son. But when I say you’re not allowed to go, then
that’s best for you.

EMMETT
Please mama, nobody can hurt your son, I’m all grown up now.

PARKER
Aunty, don’t you want him to know where he’s originally from?
Where he belongs? Plus, Father wants to spend time with him
too, Emmett and I will go first you and Nancy can come later,
okay?

MAMIE
(To Parker) I guess you’re right. But you will take care of
Emmett, till I’m there, understood?

PARKER
Of course, thank you Aunty! Well, Emmett, you should go pack
your bags, we will be leaving soon. Aunt Mamie and Nancy will
come together after we have reached.

Emmet and Parker exit (stage left) running off.

Curtains close.

Scene 2
EXT. TRAIN STAION

Characters enter (stage left).

PARKER
Alright! We have reached the train station, I’ll get the
tickets.

NANCY
Okay sure, be back soon Parker.

Parker heads to the Ticket booth.

MAMIE
Kisses Emmett’s head.
Goodbye Emmett, and behave my brave boy.
EMMETT
Sure mama!

Parker comes back.

PARKER
Alright, I’ve got our tickets.

NANCY
Goodbye Emmett and Wheeler, have a safe journey!

PARKER
Thanks Nancy, goodbye Aunt Mamie! I’ll inform you once we
reach there, by telephone, okay?

Mamie and Nancy exit (stage left).

Emmett and Parker exit (stage right).
Train engine sound is being played.
Curtains close.

Scene 3
EXT. GROCERY

ROBERT
Stop making those faces Emmett, you look so funny.

EMMETT
Takes out a picture from his pocket.
Oh, look guys! This is my girlfriend, hot, isn’t she?

ROBERT
Impossible! A white girl? It can’t be!

EMMETT
No, she’s real, she is my girlfriend.

ROBERT
I won’t believe you, till you prove it to me.

Robert crosses his arms over his chest, and Sandra nods.
EMMETT
How? She’s back home, I can’t just bring her here right now,
to prove it to you all, can I?

ROBERT
Well then, I got a dare for you Till. If you do it, we’ll
believe you alright?

EMMETT
Sure! No problem, what’s the dare brother?

ROBERT
Go inside that store and show us some of your moves, talk to
Carolyn, the Store owner’s wife.

EMMETT
Hmm, okay deal! Sit back and watch!

Emmett exits (stage left) and later enters (stage left).

EMMETT
Hey guys! Look I got bubble gum for half the price.

Everybody is shocked and sees Carolyn enter (stage left)

following Emmett.

CAROLYN
(To Emmett) How dare you? You brat!
(To others) He flirted with me and even touched me. Does
anybody see how daring this boy is? Oh my god!

A few people gather around and whisper, but the kids exit
(stage right) running away.
Curtains close.

Scene 4
INT. DINING ROOM

Emmett, Parker and Moses are sitting around the dining table.

MOSES
So how was your day today, Emmett?

EMMETT
Oh, it was great, I hung out with Robert and Sandra, we
chatted and played games. I also got some sweet bubble gum for
half the-

Violent banging on the door.

Moses checks up to see who it is, and Emmett follows him.
Moses opens the door and sees two white men, Roy Bryant and
J.W Milam.

MOSES
Yes? How may I be of assistance to you two young men?

ROY
Where’s that black nigga who tried to flirt with my wife?

MOSES
Excuse me? What do you mean by that?

MILAM
You heard my brother, where is he?

Roy spots Emmett, standing behind Moses.

ROY
It was you, wasn’t it?

Milam enters (stage left) pushes Moses aside and grabs Emmett
by the collar, dragging him out of the house.
Milam, Roy and Emmett exit (stage left).

MOSES
Stop where are you taking my nephew?!
Moses exits (stage left) following them.

PARKER
Stop, where are you taking him?!
Parker exits (stage left) following Moses.

ROY
This is what you get for flirting my wife, you black bastard!

Sounds of screams, shouts and beating.

Gunshot noise, and immediate water splashing sound.
 Lights off.
Curtains close.

Act II
Scene 1
INT. BASEMENT

A forensic investigation scene is going on in the basement,

where the police are piecing up evidence after the crime.

In the background, a ringtone is played.

A phone recording of Mamie and Parker is played.

MAMIE
Parker, did you find him? It’s been three days since he went
missing any sign of Emmett!

PARKER
We – Aunt Mamie, we – I

MAMIE
What’s the matter, Parker? Why are you stuttering?

PARKER
Aunt Mamie?

MAMIE
Speak Parker! What’s wrong with you? Have you found Emmett?!

Parker: We’ve found him…

MAMIE
Oh my god! Is he okay, how is he?

PARKER
He – Emmett – he is dead….

MAMIE
What do you mean Parker?!

PARKER
Aunty, we found him in the water, he’s bruised badly, he –we
can hardly recognize him, those two white men shot him.
 Mamie doesn’t respond.

PARKER
Aunt Mamie?

MAMIE
We’ll take this to court, Parker. They think they can silence
us with their bullets, with their hate. But Emmett deserves
justice. The world will know what they did.

PARKER
Aunt Mamie, those men… they’re powerful. The town, the system
– it’s all against us.

MAMIE
I know, Parker. But I won’t let them get away with this. Not
this time. I’m going to expose them for what they are –
murderers. I’ll show the world what they did to my boy.

PARKER
Yes, Aunt Mamie, as you say.

The call ends, and Mamie’s crying is heard.

Curtains close.

Scene 2
INT. COURTHOUSE

JUDGE
This court is now in session. We will hear the case of the
State of Mississippi versus Roy Bryant and J.W Milam.

Takes a pause and looks at the audience.

You may begin Mr. Williams.

WILLIAMS
Your honor, the monstrosity against Emmett Till's death was a
crime against humanity. A 14-year-old boy was brutally
murdered because of the color of his skin with his whole
future ahead of him. The accused men, Roy Bryant and J.W.
Milam, must be held accountable for this egregious act.
WILLIAMS
Emmett Till was lynched. And for what cause? For whistling at
a white woman. Is this what we’ve come to? A whistle, an
innocent sound, is enough to justify a murder?

CARLTON
Your honour, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I should
mention that my clients have been wrongly accused, Roy Bryant,
and J.W Milam are innocent men. They have been wrongly accused
in a case driven by emotion rather than facts. The South has
its way of life, its customs and we must understand that
before judging. These two men gestures towards Roy Bryant and
J.W Milam, were simply protecting their family’s honour,
against an affront that none of you would tolerate in your
homes.
What happened to Emmett Till was tragic, yes but a
misunderstanding – a tragic misunderstanding. You have
surpassed your limits to accuse these two men of murder for
defending what they believed was right.

WILLIAMS
Defending their honour? A tragic misunderstanding? Is that
what you call this? Beating a child beyond recognition,
choking him with a barbed wire, throwing his body into the
river? What honour is there to that? What misunderstanding is
there to that? If we let these men walk free today, we are
involved in this crime. We tell the world that a Black boy’s
life is worth nothing. That his murder is just a
misunderstanding?

Heavy silence fills the courtroom, the judge looks down,

almost bored, and clears his throat.

JUDGE
(To the Jury) You’ve heard the arguments, and you all know
your duty. Take time to carefully consider the evidence
presented to you all.

The Jury exit (stage left).

NARRATOR
This is just in. As you can see, behind me, we have a live
scene of the Mississippi versus the Roy Bryant case. Arguments
have been made and now the Judge has sent 12 men of the Jury
to an empty room to decide if the defendant is guilty or not.
The results should come to 12-0 meaning, all 12 should agree
on one decision. Soon we will be having our answers, what will
the results be?

The Jury enter (stage left).

Stay tuned.

The foreman hands the paper to the Judge.

JUDGE
We, the Jury, find the defendants, Roy Bryant and J.W Milam…
not guilty.

People gasp.
Carlton, Roy and Milam have a satisfied look, while Mamie is
crying, and Williams is disappointed.
William walks towards Mamie.

WILLIAM
I’m so sorry Mrs. Till, but we will keep fighting. Emmett Till
will not be forgotten.

MAMIE
He won’t be. Not as long as I live.

Judge and Jury exit (stage right).

Curtains close.

Scene 3
INT. CHURCH

NARRATOR
The authorities in Mississippi wanted to bury Emmett Till
quickly but the boy’s mother, Mamie Bradley, insisted that his
body be sent back to her in Chicago.
We’re here right now at the Roberts Temple Church and behind
me is where the funeral will be held. Till’s face, hardly
recognizable due to the severe injuries is the reason his
coffin has been left open. Photographs of Emmett’s body are
published, leaving many in shock.
Many Americans were angered by the lack of justice, especially
when Bryant and Milam’s confessions to beating and killing
Emmett Till were published in a magazine article, which they
were paid for just a few months later. They were able to do
this because, under US law, they could not be tried for the
same crime again.

An emotional song plays starts.

MAMIE
Thank you all for being here today. We are gathered to
remember my son, Emmett Louis Till, a boy taken from us far
too soon, and in a way no mother should ever have to endure.
Emmett was more than just a child. He was my heart; he had a
smile that could light up a room and had an unbreakable
spirit. He was curious, full of life, and a kind boy who cared
deeply for others. I never imagined that this would be the
last time I’d see him alive.
They killed him, but what they don’t know is that Emmett is
more than a memory. He is a symbol of the fight for justice.
I chose to open that casket today, to let the world see what
they did because we can’t hide the truth. Emmett’s spirit
lives on in every one of us who refuses to be silent in the
face of injustice.
As we lay my son to rest, I ask you to remember him not just
as a victim, but as a boy who lived, loved, and deserved so
much more. We will carry his light with us, and it will guide
us through the darkest days.
I request you all to kindly rise together as a sign of unity
and remembrance to Till, the boy who lived.

Song intensifies.
Emmett Till’s picture will be displayed where he’s smiling and
“July 25, 1941 – August 28, 1955” is mentioned.
Curtains close.

Cast enter from both sides for a Curtain call.