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 Ruby:
The Story of Ruby Bridges

Book and lyrics by

CHRISTINA HAM

Music and lyrics by

GARY RUE

Dramatic Publishing Company

Woodstock, Illinois • Australia • New Zealand • South Africa

FOR AUTHORIZED DIGITAL USE ONLY

 *** NOTICE ***
The amateur and stock acting rights to this work are controlled exclusively by
THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC., without whose permission
in writing no performance of it may be given. Royalty must be paid every time
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not admission is charged. A play is performed any time it is acted before an
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at: THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC., 311 Washington St.,
Woodstock, IL 60098.

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and reading, are reserved.

©MMXVII by
Book and lyrics by CHRISTINA HAM
Music and lyrics by GARY RUE

Printed in the United States of America

All Rights Reserved
(RUBY: THE STORY OF RUBY BRIDGES)

For inquiries concerning all other rights, contact:

Bret Adams, Ltd.
448 W. 44th St.
New York, NY 10036 • Phone: (212) 765-5630

ISBN: 978-1-61959-147-9

FOR AUTHORIZED DIGITAL USE ONLY

 IMPORTANT BILLING AND CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
All producers of the musical must give credit to the author and composer of
the musical in all programs distributed in connection with performances of
the musical and in all instances in which the title of the musical appears for
purposes of advertising, publicizing or otherwise exploiting the musical and/
or a production. The names of the author and composer must also appear on a
separate line, on which no other name appears, immediately following the title,
and must appear in size of type not less than fifty percent (50%) the size of the
title type. The credit shall read as follows:
RUBY!: THE STORY OF RUBY BRIDGES
Book and lyrics by Christina Ham
Music and lyrics by Gary Rue
Biographical information on the Author and Composer, if included in the
playbook, may be used in all programs. In all programs this notice must appear:

“Produced by special arrangement with

THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC., of Woodstock, Illinois.”

In addition, all producers of the play must include the following acknowledgment
on the title page of all programs distributed in connection with performances of
the play and on all advertising and promotional materials:

“Originally produced by SteppingStone Theatre for Youth Development,

St. Paul, Minn., Richard Hitchler, Artistic Director.”

FOR AUTHORIZED DIGITAL USE ONLY

Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges premiered at SteppingStone
Theatre for Youth Development in St. Paul, Minn. in Feb. 2013.

Cast:
Kellan Beck-O’Sullivan.....Protestor, Marshal, White Chorus
Anthony Brown..................................................Black Chorus
Melrose Brown...................................................Black Chorus
Jonathan Buckner...............................................Black Chorus
Natalia Cox.......................................................Joana Bridges
Alieyah Dangerfield-Schauls.........................................Diana
Alicia Dansby..................................................Lucille Bridges
Miranda Davis...................................Protestor, White Chorus
Eponine Diatta....................................................................Jill
Rashaad Dinkins............................................. Milton Bridges
Anna Evans.......................................Protestor, White Chorus
Brandon Flowers...........................................Michael Bridges
DeMarquez Frazier............................ Marshal, Black Chorus
Amari Gamble....................................................Black Chorus
Serene Lewis............................... Gail Etienne, Black Chorus
T.J. McCormick............................................ Greg Thompson
Madison Neal.................................................... White Chorus
Nathan Parshall..................Protestor, Marshal, White Chorus
Sophie Prock.............................................. Yolanda Gabrielle
Amanda Schnabel................................... Mrs. Barbara Henry
Essence Stiggers....................................................Older Ruby
Rhapsody Stiggers........................................... Younger Ruby
Haiden Van De Cruize..................................... Tessie Provost
Afiya Ward.............................................................Leona Tate
Amani Ward.......................................................Black Chorus
A.C. Wilson........................................ Marshal, Black Chorus

4
FOR AUTHORIZED DIGITAL USE ONLY
Production Staff:
Richard Hitchler......................................................... Director
Patricia Lacy-Aiken........................................ Music Director
Ahanti Young.................................................. Choreographer
Alan Pagel.................Technical Director/Sound/Set Designer
Karin Olson................................................ Lighting Designer
Ross Willits..............................................Projection Designer
Alicia C. Vegell..........................................Costume Designer
Brooke Nelson.........................................Properties Designer
Jessica Buelow................................................ Stage Manager
Jamie Macpherson...........................Assistant Stage Manager
Anthony Brown...................Student Assistant Stage Manager
DeMarquez Frazier...............................Scenery Construction

5
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FOR AUTHORIZED DIGITAL USE ONLY
 Ruby:
The Story of Ruby Bridges
CHARACTERS
OLDER RUBY: 17
YOUNGER RUBY: 6
LUCILLE BRIDGES: mother
MICHAEL BRIDGES: Ruby’s younger brother
MILTON BRIDGES: Ruby’s older brother
JOANA BRIDGES: Ruby’s younger sister
MRS. BARBARA HENRY: Ruby’s teacher
YVONNE GABRIELLE: William Frantz pupil
TESSIE PREVOST: McDonogh No. 19 pupil
GAIL ETIENNE: McDonogh No. 19 pupil
LEONA TATE: McDonogh No. 19 pupil
GREG THOMPSON: McDonogh No. 19 pupil
MARSHALS
PROTESTORS/WHITE STUDENTS: Six white teenagers
PARENTS: Two parents of the protestors
JILL: Ruby’s friend
DIANA: Ruby’s friend
CHORUS: a mixture of races and ages

7
FOR AUTHORIZED DIGITAL USE ONLY
 SETTING
The setting will alternate between Ruby’s home, outside
of William Frantz Elementary and the William Frantz
Elementary classroom.

TIME
Fall 1960-Spring 1961.

PRODUCTION NOTE
The action of the play should extend beyond the stage in regard
to the chorus and protestors that consist of both black and white
youth. There should be a pervasive feeling of the hostility that is
felt by the audience as well as Ruby and the other youth that are
integrating the schools. As the play progresses, the protestors
should thin out and join the students in the classroom either at
William Frantz and/or McDonogh No. 19.

8
FOR AUTHORIZED DIGITAL USE ONLY
 MUSICAL NUMBERS
1. The Den of Segregation...................................................11
2. The Saints Are Crying..................................................... 16
3. Melt the Troubles of This World..................................... 18
4. The Problem That We Live With.................................... 22
5. My Buddy Jim Crow....................................................... 34
6. Why Can’t They Leave You Alone?............................... 48
7. When the Saints Go Marching In/
This Little Light of Mine............................................... 62

9
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 Ruby:
The Story of Ruby Bridges
SCENE ONE
(As the lights come up, they reveal the black and white
photographs from a bygone era. The photos emphasize
children in the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement
such as the Little Rock 9, the Greensboro sit-ins and the
Children’s Crusade [even though the Crusade was in 1963].
A CHORUS of representatives from these key Civil Rights
moments comes into view as they begin to sing.)

(#1: “The Den of Segregation”)

CHORUS.
WHAT’S THIS A-SEEIN’ FRUSTRATIN’ THE NATION,
PEOPLE SAY THEY’RE GONNA DROWN THE CRIES
OF INTEGRATION,
OH ME, OH MY, LOOK AT WHAT’S BEEN DONE,
YOU CAN CALL IT LIKE YOU SEE IT, I CALL IT THE
DEN OF SEGREGATION, MM-HMM

SEGREGATION DIVISION, THE MATH AIN’T RIGHT,

SAY TO ME IN SUNSHINE WHAT YOU SAY TO ME
IN THE NIGHT,
OH ME, OH MY, LOOK AT WHAT’S BEEN DONE,
YOU CAN CALL IT LIKE YOU SEE IT, I CALL IT THE
DEN OF SEGREGATION, MM-HMM

WE’RE RUNNING SEGREGATION OUT OF EVERY

SOUTHERN TOWN,

11
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12 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

LETTING EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE’RE NOT

GONNA DROWN,
WE WON’T BE TORN ASUNDER, RIGHTEOUS
THUNDER ROLLIN’ DOWN,
EVERYBODY KNOW WHATEVER GO COME BACK
AROUND

WHAT’S THIS A-SEEIN’ FRUSTRATIN’ THE NATION,

PEOPLE SAY THEY’RE GONNA DROWN THE CRIES
OF INTEGRATION,
OH ME, OH MY, LOOK AT WHAT’S BEEN DONE,
YOU CAN CALL IT LIKE YOU SEE IT, I CALL IT THE
DEN OF SEGREGATION,
MM-HMM, MM-HMM, MM-HMM

YOU CAN CALL IT LIKE YOU SEE IT, I CALL IT THE

DEN OF SEGREGATION

(As the CHORUS completes the opening song, the underscore

of the music from this scene transitions us to our 17-year-
old RUBY, who emerges from this Children’s Crusade
movement in her graduation gown, holding a diploma in
her hand. She will be known to us as OLDER RUBY to
contrast her from our YOUNGER RUBY. She addresses the
audience. A CHORUS MEMBER writes on a chalkboard,
“November 13, 1960. Evening.” During this scene, the
PROTESTORS will be assembling their signs and the other
members of the CHORUS will play varied children’s games
like hand clapping games in the background.)

CHORUS MEMBERS #1 & #2.

Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack
All dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back …

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 13

OLDER RUBY. When I was six—the Civil Rights movement

came pounding on my door.
PARENT #1 (pointing at OLDER RUBY). They ain’t got no
right to my kid’s schools.
PROTESTOR #1. Should I make the letters bigger, daddy?
PARENT #1. A lot bigger.

(The lights shift to include YOUNGER RUBY, who plays

hopscotch with members of the CHORUS. Once the lights
shift, she becomes aware of the audience, stops playing and
begins to address them.)

YOUNGER RUBY & OLDER RUBY. I’m Ruby Nell

Bridges. Born September 8, 1954.
OLDER RUBY. I was born the same year the Supreme Court
passed Brown vs. Board of Education—the law that called for
public schools to be desegregated, “with all deliberate speed.”
YOUNGER RUBY. What segregation mean?
PROTESTOR #3 (stops pitching marbles). Y’all go to your
schools. We go to ours.

(PROTESTOR #2 holds a brick and demonstrates how to

throw it to PROTESTOR #4.)

PROTESTOR #2. When her car pulls up to the school, throw

the brick at it—like this.
OLDER RUBY (staring hard at PROTESTORS). When I
was in kindergarten I took a really hard test with a bunch
of other kids to decide which of us would be the first to
integrate New Orleans’ school system. I passed that test.
YOUNGER RUBY. Leaving my teacher and friends at
Johnson Lockett to go to William Frantz is gonna be hard.
Every kid on my block goes to Johnson Lockett.

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14 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

(JILL and DIANA walk over to YOUNGER RUBY.)

JILL. Have fun at school tomorrow, Ruby.

DIANA. We’ll miss you.

(JILL and DIANA hug YOUNGER RUBY.)

YOUNGER RUBY. I’ll miss you too, Jill and Diana.

(JILL and DIANA exit.)

OLDER RUBY. Except for going to Johnson Lockett and

church—most of my family’s world didn’t go beyond our
block. But, that was going to change. My mama reminded
me of that.
LUCILLE. One day you gonna be holding a high-school
diploma and maybe one from college. A piece of paper has
the power to change lives.

(YOUNGER RUBY turns and goes to her bed where her

mom, LUCILLE BRIDGES, waits to tuck her in. YOUNGER
RUBY takes the teddy bear from her mom. OLDER RUBY
watches YOUNGER RUBY climb into bed.)

OLDER RUBY. This was our two-bedroom rooming house

on France that was overrun with my brothers and only sister.

(Suddenly, MICHAEL, MILTON and JOANA BRIDGES

come running into the bedroom and hop into their assigned
beds with YOUNGER RUBY climbing into her own bed.)

YOUNGER RUBY. Mama and Daddy work hard but we still

poor.
OLDER RUBY. We didn’t know it ’cause we prayed to God
to make sure we had everything we needed.

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 15

(OLDER RUBY sits opposite the bed as she watches

YOUNGER RUBY with LUCILLE.)

LUCILLE. Did you all say your prayers?

BRIDGES CHILDREN. Yes, ma’am!
LUCILLE. You thanked God for today and the gift that’ll be
tomorrow?
YOUNGER RUBY. I prayed that God bless you, daddy, my
brothers and my sister, AND that I have a great first day at
my new school.

(YOUNGER RUBY’s siblings begin to drift into sleep as

YOUNGER RUBY and LUCILLE continue to talk. OLDER
RUBY watches them.)

LUCILLE. Them all good things to pray about. Now, get to

sleep so you can be rested.
YOUNGER RUBY. I’m too excited to sleep, Mama.
OLDER RUBY. Tomorrow the six-year-old me was about
to knock down some of the strongest doors that even
Louisiana’s court system couldn’t keep closed to me.
LUCILLE. You got to try to sleep.
YOUNGER RUBY. Any other Negro kids gonna be at
William Frantz with me?
LUCILLE. Let’s see. Two children decided to stay at their
old school and three other girls is going to that white school
McDonogh No. 19.
YOUNGER RUBY. So, I’ll be the only Negro at William
Frantz?
LUCILLE. For now.
OLDER RUBY. If Mama thought I could do something like
integration, then I could.

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16 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

(LUCILLE kisses YOUNGER RUBY on the forehead.)

LUCILLE. Close your eyes and invite dreams in.

(YOUNGER RUBY does as she’s told. As LUCILLE exits,

OLDER RUBY enters and watches.)

OLDER RUBY. I tried to do as I was told—

YOUNGER RUBY. But, I’m too excited to sleep—
OLDER RUBY. Too young to know I should be scared.
YOUNGER RUBY. But, the saints knew …

( “The Saints Are Crying”)

YOUNGER RUBY.
THE SAINTS ARE CRYIN’,
LOOK AT THE TEARS POOL AT MY FEET,
THE SAINTS ARE CRYIN’,
LOOK AT THE TEARS POOL AT MY FEET,
I’M HOLDING BACK THOSE TEARS, DEAR MAMA,
I KNOW THIS CANNOT BE DEFEAT.

OLDER RUBY.
YOU GOT YOUR GUARD’AN ANGEL,
WALKIN’ BESIDE YOU DOWN THE STREET,
YOU GOT YOUR GUARD’AN ANGEL,
WALKIN’ BESIDE YOU DOWN THE STREET,
HE MAKE ME FEEL SO SAFE, DEAR SISTA,
THAT THING CALL FEAR, IT CAN BE BEAT.

YOUNGER RUBY.
I GOT AN ACHIN’, FEELIN’,
AIN’T GONE BE NO TURNIN’ ’ROUND,
I GOT AN ACHIN’ FEELIN’,
AIN’T GONE BE NO TURNIN’ ’ROUND,

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 17

THE SAINTS ARE CRYIN’ NOW, DEAR SISTA,

GONE SEND THOSE BLUES BACK UNDERGROUND,

YOUNGER RUBY & OLDER RUBY.

THE SAINTS ARE CRYIN’,
BUT THEY TEARS WON’T BE POOLIN’ AT MY FEET,
THE SAINTS ARE CRYIN’,
BUT THEY TEARS WON’T BE POOLIN’ AT MY FEET,
I’M HOLDIN’ BACK THOSE TEARS, DEAR MAMA,
I KNOW THIS WILL NOT BE DEFEAT.

(As YOUNGER RUBY rolls over to go to sleep, OLDER

RUBY smiles as the lights and music from “The Saints Are
Crying” transition.)

SCENE TWO
(The following morning. YOUNGER RUBY is dressed by
LUCILLE. She wears a white pinafore, long blue stockings,
and a big white dress as LUCILLE puts the finishing
touches on YOUNGER RUBY’s hair. LUCILLE wears a
blue sweater and blue plaid skirt. A CHORUS MEMBER
writes on the chalkboard, “November 14, 1960. Morning.”
Some CHORUS MEMBERS might take fall leaves, etc., and
begin to form an autumnal backdrop that would be found in
a classroom. Others might play childhood games including
resuming the handclapping game. The PROTESTORS begin
to assemble with their signs.)

CHORUS MEMBERS #1 & #2.

She asked her mother, mother, mother
For fifty cents, cents, cents
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants
Jump over the fence, fence, fence …

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18 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

OLDER RUBY. With all the fighting in the courts over

integration it was nearly Thanksgiving by the time I went to
school! Mama marked the occasion with a freshly starched
dress.
YOUNGER RUBY. I’m gonna be real careful not to get it dirty.

(LUCILLE zips YOUNGER RUBY into her starched dress

and YOUNGER RUBY ties a ribbon into her hair. OLDER
RUBY primps beside her younger self. JOANA looks at
YOUNGER RUBY, who spins around in her dress.)

YOUNGER RUBY. How do I look, Joana?

JOANA. Pretty!

(YOUNGER RUBY grabs her lunch pail.)

YOUNGER RUBY. I’m ready, mama.

(LUCILLE turns YOUNGER RUBY to face her.)

LUCILLE. Remember what I said might be waiting outside

the school.
YOUNGER RUBY. Bad people?
LUCILLE. Angry people.
YOUNGER RUBY. Why they so mad?

( “Melt the Troubles of This World”)

LUCILLE.
DON’T KNOW WHY THERE’S FIGHTING,
DON’T KNOW WHY THERE’S CRYING ALL OVER,
DON’T KNOW WHY THERE’S AN OPEN WOUND
GOT TO MELT THE TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 19

YOUNGER RUBY.
DON’T KNOW WHY THERE’S SHOUTING,
DON’T KNOW WHY THERE’S DOUBTING ALL
OVER,
DON’T KNOW WHY NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW,
HOW TO MELT THE TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD

OLDER RUBY.
BUT I KNOW

CHORUS 1.
BUT I KNOW

CHORUS 2.
BUT I KNOW

OLDER RUBY.
PEACE AND JUSTICE ARE TRUE
AND I KNOW

CHORUS 1.
AND I KNOW

CHORUS 2.
AND I KNOW

OLDER RUBY.
THAT CHANGE WILL RING,
IF EACH VOICE WILL ONLY LIFT AND SING
DON’T KNOW WHY

CHORUS.
DON’T KNOW WHY

ALL.
THERE’S FIGHTING

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20 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

OLDER RUBY.
DON’T KNOW WHY

CHORUS.
DON’T KNOW WHY

ALL.
THERE’S CRYING ALL OVER

OLDER RUBY.
BUT I KNOW CHANGE IS SURE TO COME
AND WE WILL

ALL.
MELT THE TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD
MELT THE TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD
MELT THE TROUBLES OF THIS WORLD

(The doorbell rings. The BRIDGES SIBLINGS compete for

who can get to the door first by running to it.

MILTON. I got it!

JOANA. Just ’cause you’re older, Milton, I should still be
able to get the door!
LUCILLE. All of you get back. I got this.

(They do as she says. LUCILLE pauses then straightens

herself. She opens the door to the federal MARSHALS.
YOUNGER RUBY, seeing the guns, hides behind her mother.
So do her SIBLINGS, except for MILTON.)

MICHAEL. Are they here to kill us, Mama?

MILTON. Should I get Daddy?
YOUNGER RUBY (guarding her siblings). Mama?!

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 21

OLDER RUBY (to YOUNGER RUBY). Don’t be scared—

be strong.
LUCILLE. May I help you?
MARSHAL #1. We’re here for Ruby Bridges.
YOUNGER RUBY. Who are you?
MARSHAL #1. I’m a federal marshal.
YOUNGER RUBY. I had never seen a white person up close
like this before.
LUCILLE. Does she need both of you?
MARSHAL #2. The U.S. government sent us to protect Ruby
on her first day of school at William Frantz.
YOUNGER RUBY. ’Cause I’m integrating it?
MARSHAL #2. Correct.
OLDER RUBY. The U.S. government feared us kids that was
about to integrate the schools might be hurt.
YOUNGER RUBY. That’s why the police blocked off our
block—’cause of me.
MICHAEL. What integrate mean?
YOUNGER RUBY. I get to go to school with white kids
’cause they say it’s a better school than Johnson Lockett.
PROTESTOR #2. You wanna be white? We’ll make you
white—by throwing acid in your face!
MARSHAL #1 (to YOUNGER RUBY). When we get to the
school one of us will walk in front of you and one behind you.
YOUNGER RUBY (walking around the MARSHALS).
Mama, will I be safe with these men that ain’t Daddy?
LUCILLE. We don’t put our faith in men. We put it in God.

(As YOUNGER RUBY hugs her siblings before she leaves,

the CHORUS of the KIDS from her neighborhood gather
their books and head to school as well. JILL and DIANA
run by her.)

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22 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

JILL & DIANA. You finally going to school, Ruby?

YOUNGER RUBY. Yes. I’ll miss going to Johnson Lockett
with you all.
PROTESTOR. I don’t care if they go to my school, Daddy.

(PARENT #1 hits PROTESTOR #4 on the head.)

PARENT #1. You don’t know what you talking about, boy.
Nobody wants to sit next to no burrhead!
OLDER RUBY. The five blocks from my house to William
Frantz seemed like an eternity.

(The CHORUS walks to school in the same direction as

YOUNGER RUBY and the wall of the MARSHALS that
surround her, but eventually they split off and she is left
alone with LUCILLE, the MARSHALS and OLDER RUBY.
The lights transition to the next scene.)

SCENE THREE
(LUCILLE, YOUNGER RUBY and OLDER RUBY walk
to her first day of school at William Frantz surrounded by
the MARSHALS. As they approach the school the noise of
the PROTESTORS becomes louder. A CHORUS MEMBER
erases “Morning”and writes “Later That Morning.”

( “The Problem That We Live With”)

YOUNGER RUBY.
WELL I KNOW IT WON’T BE LONG NOW,
TILL I CLIMB THESE STEPS TO HIGHER GROUND,
WITH THESE FED’RAL GIANTS I’VE NEVER SEEN
BEFORE,
’TWEEN THESE GIANTS I’M A PAWN IN THIS CIVIL
RIGHTS WAR,

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 23

IT STILL GIVES ME BUTTERFLIES TO THINK,

OUR COUNTRY’S LIVIN’ OUT ON THIS BRINK.
WE KNOW THAT IT’S
THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
IT’S THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
OH, YEAH.

OLDER RUBY.
OH, IT’S HARD TO BE A CHILD NOW,
WITH THE WORLD AND ALL ITS WICKED WAYS,
BUT, WE’RE JUST NOT GONNA LET WICKED GET
US DOWN,
WE’RE NOT GONNA LET OUR SMILE TURN INTO A
FROWN,
THE JUDGES AND THEIR ORDERS CAN’T STAND,
THEY THINK THEY’LL CROSS THIS LINE IN THE
SAND.
WE KNOW THAT IT’S THE

OLDER RUBY & BLACK CHORUS.

PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
IT’S THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
OH, YEAH.

YOUNGER RUBY.
PARENTS TELL US WE’RE TOO YOUNG TO
UNDERSTAND
BUT WE WILL FIGURE OUT JUST WHAT TO DO

BLACK CHORUS.
JUST WHAT TO DO

YOUNGER RUBY.
’CAUSE WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND IT’S
WORTH FIGHTING FOR

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24 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

YOUNGER RUBY & BLACK CHORUS.

WHAT MUST BE DONE, CAN BE DONE,
WHAT CAN BE DONE, OH, LET US DO

YOUNGER RUBY.
OH, LET’S OVERCOME THIS

YOUNGER RUBY & BLACK CHORUS.

PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
IT’S THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
OH, YEAH.

OLDER RUBY & YOUNGER RUBY.

IT’S THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
IT’S THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
OH, YEAH.

YOUNGER RUBY.
IT’S THE PROBLEM THAT WE LIVE WITH
OH, YEAH.

(The music continues to underscore the scene. The

MARSHALS assume their positions of one in the front and
one behind YOUNGER RUBY as they walk past the police
barricades. Sounds of breaking bottles and screaming from
the PROTESTORS who hold Confederate flags along with
signs that say, for example, “We Want States’ Rights” and
“We Don’t Want Integration.”)

LUCILLE (to YOUNGER RUBY). Remember, walk straight

to the door and whatever you do—don’t look back.
YOUNGER RUBY (excited, peeking between the
MARSHALS). Mama, there’s so many people. It must be
Mardi Gras!

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 25

LUCILLE (to herself). Lord, I wasn’t expecting this. (To

YOUNGER RUBY.) Stick close to me.
OLDER RUBY. All of these people were here … for me?

(YOUNGER RUBY sticks close to LUCILLE, but she’s

fascinated by the wave of attention. The sea of PROTESTORS
represent a full range of what YOUNGER RUBY will deal
with on a daily basis. One of them has a coffin with a black
doll in it. PROTESTOR #1 tries to spit at YOUNGER RUBY,
but misses her.)

PROTESTOR #1. Two, four

Six, eight
We don’t want to integrate!
Six, four,
Two
We don’t want a chigeroo!
PROTESTOR #2 (holding coffin). Get in this here coffin so
we can dig your grave!
YOUNGER RUBY (grabbing LUCILLE’s hand). Mama, did
you see that coffin!
MARSHAL #1. Remember what your mother told you, Ruby.
Don’t look back.
MARSHAL #2. Just look ahead.
OLDER RUBY. All the shouting didn’t worry me as much as
seeing that black doll lying in its coffin.
PROTESTOR #3. Darkies ain’t wanted ’round here!
PROTESTOR #4. I’m gonna poison you! I’ll find me a way!

(The shield of the MARSHALS act as a buffer to the slander

hurled towards her. However, OLDER RUBY hears it.)

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26 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

OLDER RUBY. I didn’t know two miles away three other

Negro girls going to McDonogh No. 19 were being
screamed at too.

(TESSIE PREVOST, GAIL ETIENNE and LEONA TATE

walk quickly to McDonogh No. 19 surrounded by two
MARSHALS. They hold hands as the PROTESTORS yell at
them too.)

TESSIE. Gail, Leona … I’m scared.

GAIL. Me too.
LEONA. Least we got each other.

(OLDER RUBY is shaken by the PROTESTORS, but

YOUNGER RUBY is too busy being mesmerized by the
large steps that lead toward the front door of the school.)

YOUNGER RUBY. Mama, you sure this the right place?

LUCILLE. Why?
YOUNGER RUBY. This building ain’t look nothing like
Johnson Lockett. It look more like a college!
MARSHAL #1. Wait here. We’ll see if we can get you into
the classroom.

(MARSHAL #1 and MARSHAL #2 lead YOUNGER RUBY

into an office. LUCILLE, YOUNGER RUBY and OLDER
RUBY wait as WHITE KIDS coming and going act as an hour
glass that ticks down the passage of time during the day.)

WHITE KID #1. My daddy and mama ain’t letting me go to

school with the likes of you!
PARENT #2. We got Jim Crow laws here for a reason.
WHITE KID #2. Them those segregation laws you and Mama
talk about, Daddy?

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 27

PARENT #2. That’s right, son.

(WHITE KID #3 in classroom raises their hand.)

WHITE KID #3. Why can’t they go to school back in Africa

where they belong?
YOUNGER RUBY. My parents told me we helped to build this
country too.
OLDER RUBY. And we waited and waited hoping I’d be able
to go to class.
YOUNGER RUBY. The other kids in class. Why can’t I be?
LUCILLE. Ruby Nell, please.
OLDER RUBY. All I wanted to do was learn like the rest of them.

(3:00 arrives, the school bell rings and all of the kids who
aren’t at William Frantz run out of their respective schools.
YOUNGER RUBY stands.)

YOUNGER RUBY. I never went to class.

(The MARSHALS show up at the principal’s office to retrieve

YOUNGER RUBY and LUCILLE.)

MARSHAL #1. Maybe things will be different tomorrow.

(As the MARSHALS walk outside with YOUNGER RUBY,

LUCILLE and OLDER RUBY in tow, the PROTESTORS sing
the altered words to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” waving
a Confederate flag, their crosses, etc.)

PROTESTORS (singing). Glory, glory segregation!

Glory, glory segregation!
Glory, glory, segregation!
The South will rise again.

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28 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

YOUNGER RUBY (pulling on her mother). I thought I was

going to class at Johnson Lockett like Jill and Diana.
LUCILLE. Sometimes God’s plans ain’t our plans.
YOUNGER RUBY. So, maybe tomorrow?
LUCILLE. If it be God’s will.

(As the MARSHALS get YOUNGER RUBY back to her

home the CHORUS runs over to her.)

CHORUS. Ruby! Ruby!

(YOUNGER RUBY looks at LUCILLE.)

YOUNGER RUBY. Mama, may I go play?

LUCILLE. Real quick. Your daddy gonna be wanting dinner
soon.

(The CHORUS and YOUNGER RUBY begin to play

hopscotch as the lights transition.)

SCENE FOUR
(The MARSHALS walk YOUNGER RUBY, LUCILLE and
OLDER RUBY to the front door where her SIBLINGS are
waiting. The PROTESTORS go to their neighborhood and
the CHORUS goes to theirs. A couple of members from the
CHORUS begin to jump rope in tandem. So do a couple of the
WHITE KIDS. The girls in both groups say the “Cinderella”
jump rope song. A CHORUS MEMBER erases “Later That
Morning” and writes “Evening.” In the background, the
sound of breaking bottles should underscore the scene.)

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 29

CHORUS MEMBERS #3 & #4 / WHITE KIDS #3 & #4.

Cinderella
Dressed in yellow
Went upstairs
To kiss her fellow.
JOANA. Ruby! Ruby!
YOUNGER RUBY. Lemme put down my lunch pail.

(YOUNGER RUBY puts down her lunch pail.)

JOANA. How was school?

MILTON. Whatchu do?
MICHAEL. What’s it like sitting in the same class as white
kids?
YOUNGER RUBY. I didn’t go to class today.
JOANA. Why?

(YOUNGER RUBY looks at her mom. They’re both at a

loss. LUCILLE exits.)

YOUNGER RUBY. I don’t know.

MILTON. Daddy say they don’t want us in they schools.
What’s so wrong with that?

(WHITE KID #1 pushes WHITE KID #2.)

WHITE KID #2. Why you push me?

WHITE KID #1. My daddy don’t want me playing with you
no more ’cause your parents got you going to school with
those chigeroos.

(WHITE KID #2 cries. White KID #1 and #2 exit in separate

directions.)

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30 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

YOUNGER RUBY. What if I say you can’t play with us

’cause you left-handed. How would you feel?

(MICHAEL thinks about this.)

MICHAEL. Bad.
YOUNGER RUBY. Why?
MICHAEL. ’Cause it shouldn’t matter that I’m left handed.
YOUNGER RUBY. Just like it shouldn’t matter that I’m a
Negro.
MILTON. Daddy tole Mama that his boss gone fire him if you
keep going to that school.
YOUNGER RUBY. You think Mama wants us to have jobs
cleaning hotels or making caskets like she gotta do?
BRIDGES SIBLINGS. No.
MILTON. You think Daddy wanna lose his job ’cause a you?
YOUNGER RUBY. If I stay in that school, Mama say I can
have a better life and so can you all. Then, my friends and
kids that’s different colors than me can go there too one day.
JOANA. I went to the market with Daddy and they told us
they didn’t want us shopping there no more ’cause of you!
YOUNGER RUBY. It ain’t my fault!
LUCILLE (off). Ruby Nell, I know that wasn’t you screaming.
Y’all keep it down in there.
ALL. Yes, ma’am.
MILTON (in hushed tone). Daddy say too that Grandpa and
Grandma was kicked off they land in Mississippi ’cause the
owner hear what you was doing.
YOUNGER RUBY. They lived there for almost thirty years.
OLDER RUBY. This stuff was all really hard to hear, but I
tried not to let it get me down. It was hard not to think that
these things weren’t my fault.

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YOUNGER RUBY. Mama say she don’t believe God done

brought us this far to let us down now. I believe Mama
’cause she never lie and I believe God ’cause neither do He.

(The doorbell rings. LUCILLE comes in from making dinner

to get the door. JILL and DIANA enter with a jump rope.)

YOUNGER RUBY (cont’d). Jill! Diana!

JILL & DIANA. Ruby!
LUCILLE. Hello, girls. How are you?
JILL. Great, Mrs. Bridges. Can Ruby come out and play?
YOUNGER RUBY. Can I, Mama? Please. I don’t have
homework yet.
LUCILLE. You just played Ruby Nell.
YOUNGER RUBY. But I haven’t gotten to talk with Jill and
Diana about my first day.
LUCILLE. Make sure you all play where I can see you.
YOUNGER RUBY (kisses her cheek). Thank you, Mama.

(YOUNGER RUBY runs off with JILL and DIANA. The

three girls play double Dutch.)

YOUNGER RUBY (cont’d). How was school, Jill?

JILL. Fine—it would’ve been better if you was with us.
JILL. What’s William Frantz like?
YOUNGER RUBY. As big as a college.
DIANA. Really?
JILL. What did you do on your first day?
DIANA. Jump rope?
JILL. Hopscotch?
DIANA. Jacks?

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32 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

JILL. What’s it like—sitting with white kids?

YOUNGER RUBY (shrugs). I ain’t sat with none yet.
(Somewhat excited.) I learned a new chant we can double
Dutch to.
JILL. What?!
YOUNGER RUBY. Two, four
Six, eight
We don’t want to integrate!
Six, four,
Two
We don’t want a chigeroo!

(JILL and DIANA gleefully join in the chant.)

JILL & DIANA. Two, four

Six, eight
We don’t want to integrate!
Six, four
Two
We don’t want a chigeroo!

(The girls continue the chant as YOUNGER RUBY does

double Dutch to it while the girls turn the rope. The
CHORUS MEMBERS continue to jump rope as well while a
couple of PROTESTORS glare at the happy girls.)

OLDER RUBY. Back then double Dutch could heal almost

anything.

(The lights transition.)

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 33

SCENE FIVE
(The following morning. A CHORUS MEMBER erases the
previous date and writes “November 15, 1960. Morning”
on the chalkboard. The screaming and the shouting of the
crowd come up along with more breaking of bottles. While
the PROTESTORS shout, some of the CHORUS MEMBERS
at Johnson Lockett do double Dutch to “Teddy Bear, Teddy
Bear.” A young white girl, YOLANDA GABRIELLE, rushes
past the mob and into the school before YOUNGER RUBY,
OLDER RUBY, LUCILLE and the MARSHALS enter.)

CHORUS MEMBERS #1 & #2. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,

turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, show your shoe,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, that will do!

(PROTESTOR #1 walks over to YOLANDA.)

PROTESTOR #1 (to YOLANDA). You gon’ get a disease

going to an integrated school, little girl. Just you wait.
YOLANDA. I ain’t paying y’all no mind!
PROTESTOR #2. Who’s that white girl?
PROTESTOR #3. Yolanda Gabrielle. Her family lives down
the street from me. My brothers and I gonna go to they
house and throw some bricks.
OLDER RUBY. Morning came way too quick.
LUCILLE. You say your prayers before you left home?
YOUNGER RUBY. I forgot, ma’am.
LUCILLE. Ruby, how you expect to survive this mess
without prayer? Do it. Now.

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34 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

YOUNGER RUBY. Dear Lord, I pray that you protect me

and my mama. And that I can start school today—like the
rest of the students. Amen.

(YOUNGER RUBY, LUCILLE and OLDER RUBY

make their way to the school the following day, led
by the MARSHALS and surrounded by the screaming
PROTESTORS.)

PROTESTOR #3. We’re gonna poison you, darkie!

(The PROTESTOR with the coffin and black doll breaks to

the front of the protest line. It scares RUBY.)

( “My Buddy Jim Crow”)

PROTESTORS.
AS YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE COME INTO OUR
SCHOOLS,
AND TRY, ALL IN VAIN NOW, TO END SOUTHERN
RULE,
WE’LL RAISE UP AS ONE WHEN SATAN COMES
’ROUND,
YOU’LL NOT TAKE ONE INCH OF THIS HALLOWED
GROUND,

AS YOU AND YOUR KIND TRY TO FIT IN,

YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR SKIN IS
YOUR SIN,
OH, YOU DEMON DARK, YOU BLACKER THAN
NIGHT,
A PLAGUE ON YOUR KIND, BE GONE FROM OUR
SIGHT,

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 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges 35

CHORUS.
GATHER YOUR HOSES, MY BUDDY JIM CROW,
GATHER THEM TIGHT NOW, MY GOOD BUDDY,
OH!
GATHER THEM HOSES, TO WASH AWAY SIN,
HAIL TO JIM CROW AND THE STATE THAT WE’RE
IN,

SOLO.
HERE IS MY HOSE NOW, MY DOG AT MY FEET,
AND HE’LL TAKE TO YOU TILL YOU’RE DEAD IN
THE STREET,
WE’LL RALLY OLD GLORY WITH TRUE SOUTHERN
PRIDE,
WE’LL STICK TO OUR GUNS, WITH GOD ON OUR
SIDE, SO

CHORUS.
GATHER YOUR HOSES, MY BUDDY JIM CROW,
GATHER THEM TIGHT NOW, MY GOOD BUDDY,
OH!
GATHER THEM HOSES, TO WASH AWAY SIN,
HAIL TO JIM CROW AND THE STATE THAT WE’RE
IN,
HAIL TO JIM CROW AND THE STATE THAT WE’RE
IN.

RUBY. Mama?!
LUCILLE. Don’t look back.

(YOUNGER RUBY takes LUCILLE’s hand and pulls her

forward to get into the school building. They stop at the
principal’s office.)

YOUNGER RUBY. Are we going to have to wait again today?

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36 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

LUCILLE. Not today, baby.

OLDER RUBY. I was so excited. I could hardly breathe.

(The MARSHALS escort YOUNGER RUBY, LUCILLE and

OLDER RUBY to the classroom, where MRS. HENRY stands
to greet them. The MARSHALS leave them at the classroom.
Note: Each time we’re in the classroom, we’ll hear the
underscore of the protestors in the background.)

MRS. HENRY (to LUCILLE). Mrs. Bridges?

LUCILLE. Yes, ma’am.
MRS. HENRY (shaking LUCILLE’s hand). I’m Mrs. Henry.
So lovely to meet you.
LUCILLE. You too.
MRS. HENRY. And this must be Ruby.

(YOUNGER RUBY hides behind LUCILLE.)

OLDER RUBY. She … scared me then. Even though she’d

become the kindest person I’d ever met.
LUCILLE. Ruby Nell Bridges, you know I raised you to say
“hello” when spoken to.
OLDER RUBY (almost whispering to YOUNGER RUBY).
It’s OK to speak. This woman will one day be like your
best friend.
YOUNGER RUBY (quietly). Nice to meet you.
MRS. HENRY. Ruby Nell Bridges—such a pretty name. May
I call you Ruby Nell?

(YOUNGER RUBY slowly nods her head.)

LUCILLE. She usually ain’t this shy.

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OLDER RUBY. Mama was right—I wasn’t. But, I’d never

met anyone like Mrs. Henry before.
MRS. HENRY. I’m sure it just takes her a while to warm up
to strangers. I used to be the same way when I was a kid.
YOUNGER RUBY. How did you get over it?
MRS. HENRY. Time heals a lot of things. I have a desk
waiting right here for you where you can put your things.

(MRS. HENRY walks to the desk. YOUNGER RUBY does

not follow, but looks at her mother instead.)

LUCILLE. Go ahead.

(YOUNGER RUBY walks slowly to her desk.)

YOUNGER RUBY. Are we early?

MRS. HENRY. No.
YOUNGER RUBY. Where’s … the rest of the class?
MRS. HENRY (sitting). We’re it.

(YOUNGER RUBY takes a seat.)

OLDER RUBY. Mrs. Henry and I were now in this together.

(GAIL, LEONA and TESSIE enter their own classroom on

the other side of the stage.)

GAIL, LEONA & TESSIE. Scavenger hunt!

(They run around their classroom and search diligently for

items, enjoying themselves.)

LEONA (holds up an item). Found one!

MRS. HENRY. Before we get started let’s try a rhyme. What’s
one of your favorites?

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38 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

YOUNGER RUBY (thinks). One, two,

Buckle my shoe;
Three, four,
Shut the door;
Five, six,
Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight,
Lay them straight.
OLDER RUBY. While I was inside learning with Mrs.
Henry, the protestors still had other plans for making sure I
couldn’t stay at “their” school.
PROTESTOR #1. Hear they gonna be protesting down at
city hall. Make sure we get down there in time.
PROTESTOR #4. Let’s go!
YOUNGER RUBY. Nine, ten,
A big fat hen;
Eleven, twelve,
Who will delve?
Thirteen, fourteen,
Maids a-courting;
Fifteen, sixteen,
Maids a-kissing;
Seventeen, eighteen,
Maids a-waiting;
Nineteen, twenty,
My stomach’s empty.
MRS. HENRY. Very good. I love that rhyme as well.
OLDER RUBY. Not far from me—at McDonogh No. 19—
Tessie, Gail and Leona were dealing with some of the same
things I was. But, at least they had each other.

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TESSIE. My mama say Ruby in class all by herself. She gotta

play scavenger hunt alone.
GAIL. Wonder if she have trouble sleeping at night like I do?
LEONA. Wonder if the Klan done come to her family’s house
the way they found my uncle’s place.

(LEONA, GAIL and TESSIE are quiet for a moment. TESSIE

breaks the spell.)

TESSIE. Y’all hear Etta James’ new song, “At Last”?

OLDER RUBY. So much was riding on our little shoulders.
But, we never let it get us down.

(MRS. HENRY takes out a book for YOUNGER RUBY

to read as TESSIE, GAIL and LEONA hum. The lights
transition.)

SCENE SIX
(YOUNGER RUBY, OLDER RUBY and LUCILLE get home.
The BRIDGES SIBLINGS are playing. YOUNGER RUBY
runs to her SIBLINGS and gives them a big hug. A CHORUS
MEMBER erases “Morning” and writes “Evening.” A few
bars from Etta James’ “At Last,” or something similar,
begin to play.)

YOUNGER RUBY. Guess what?! Guess what?!

MILTON. What?
YOUNGER RUBY. I had my first day at school today.
JOANA. While you was at school, Daddy got fired.
LUCILLE. Where’s your daddy?
JOANA. Talking in back to one of the neighbors.

(LUCILLE exits.)

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40 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

OLDER RUBY. Daddy never wanted me to go to William

Frantz and now his worst nightmares were coming to life
while my dreams were being born.
MILTON. You may have gone to school, but I’ll betchu them
white students ain’t let you play with’em.
YOUNGER RUBY. One day.
MICHAEL. Come outside and play with us and have a China
Ball fight!
JOANA. Quiet, Michael.
MILTON. Them white kids in your class the reason Daddy
lost his job.
YOUNGER RUBY. It was just me and the teacher. (Sullenly
goes to her room.)
MICHAEL (to the others). Why won’t Ruby Nell play China
Ball fight with us?
MILTON. I’ll go with you, Michael. Ruby Nell too good for
us now.

(The CHORUS MEMBERS participate in the China Ball

fight, bombing each other with the berries from the tree.
OLDER RUBY follows YOUNGER RUBY as LUCILLE re-
enters and goes to YOUNGER RUBY’s bedroom.)

YOUNGER RUBY. Daddy OK?

LUCILLE. He will be. I don’t want you taking none of this
to heart.
YOUNGER RUBY. How daddy gonna feed us with no job?
LUCILLE. Wasn’t never your daddy that make sure there
was food on our table—it was God and He will make a way.
OLDER RUBY. Mama always had a way with faith—she
refused to believe it ran out.

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YOUNGER RUBY. Maybe I should go back to Johnson

Lockett?
LUCILLE. We ain’t gonna force you to do nothing you don’t
want to do.
YOUNGER RUBY. But, if I don’t go back to William Frantz
then I’m doing exactly what they want me to do.
LUCILLE. Yes, baby. (Hands YOUNGER RUBY a teddy bear.)
YOUNGER RUBY. Mrs. Henry asked me to bring a current
event to class tomorrow.
LUCILLE. You know what you gonna bring?
YOUNGER RUBY. Yes, ma’am.
LUCILLE. Very good.
YOUNGER RUBY. Mama … I was thinking.
LUCILLE. What?
YOUNGER RUBY. Do you have to come with me to school
tomorrow?
LUCILLE. I had planned on it.
YOUNGER RUBY. I know you gotta go to work and all on
a count of Daddy—
LUCILLE. Don’t you worry none about that. Me and your
daddy’ll be just fine. You are our first concern.
YOUNGER RUBY. Still—I can go to school on my own.
LUCILLE. You sure?
YOUNGER RUBY. Positive.
OLDER RUBY. Something inside of me knew even then I
was to do this journey on my own.
LUCILLE (kisses her forehead). Don’t start that crying. You
know I’ll always be with you.
YOUNGER RUBY. Yes, ma’am.
LUCILLE. And, you remember what to do before you go to
school?

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42 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

YOUNGER RUBY. Say my prayers.

LUCILLE. That way you’ll never be scared.
YOUNGER RUBY. Yes, Mama.
LUCILLE. God’s got you in His hands.

(Note: “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” should be

sung a cappella and is not included in the musical score.)

LUCILLE (cont’d).
HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS,
HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS,
HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS,
HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS.

YOUNGER RUBY.
HE’S GOT MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS IN HIS
HANDS,
HE’S GOT MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS IN HIS
HANDS,
HE’S GOT MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS IN HIS
HANDS,
HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS.

JOANA.
HE’S GOT THE SUN AND THE RAIN IN HIS HANDS,
HE’S GOT THE MOON AND THE STARS IN HIS
HANDS,
HE’S GOT THE WIND AND THE CLOUDS IN HIS
HANDS,
HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS.

OLDER RUBY.
HE’S GOT THE RIVERS AND THE MOUNTAINS IN
HIS HANDS,
HE’S GOT THE OCEANS AND THE SEAS IN HIS
HANDS,

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MICHAEL & MILTON.

HE’S GOT YOU AND HE’S GOT ME IN HIS HANDS,
HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS.

ALL.
HE’S GOT EVERYBODY HERE IN HIS HANDS,
HE’S GOT EVERYBODY THERE IN HIS HANDS,
HE’S GOT EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE IN HIS
HANDS,
HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS.

(The BRIDGES SIBLINGS say their prayers quietly and climb

into their respective beds. LUCILLE tucks each of them in,
putting YOUNGER RUBY into bed last.)

LUCILLE (kisses her forehead). Get some rest … you’ve

had a really long day.
(LUCILLE is about to leave, but YOUNGER RUBY stops her.)

YOUNGER RUBY. Mama, can you watch me go to sleep? I

been having nightmares.
LUCILLE. Prayers keep nightmares at bay.
YOUNGER RUBY (gets on her knees). Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John,
Bless the bed that I lay on;
Four corners to my bed,
Four angels round my head,
One to watch and one to pray,
And two to bear my soul away.

(YOUNGER RUBY climbs back into bed.)

OLDER RUBY. Amen.

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44 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

SCENE SEVEN
(YOUNGER RUBY, OLDER RUBY and MRS. HENRY
sit in the classroom reading. Finally, YOUNGER RUBY
stops. A CHORUS MEMBER erases the chalkboard and
writes “November 16, 1960. Morning.” In the background,
CHORUS MEMBERS create crafts to commemorate
Thanksgiving. “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands”
continues to underscore the moment while the PROTESTORS
rage on. PROTESTOR #4 notices PROTESTOR #1 is
missing.)

PROTESTOR #4. What happened to your friend?

PROTESTOR #3. Got arrested in the protest last night.
PROTESTOR #2. They expect us to stay home like good
little boys and girls but we seeing this thing through!
CHORUS MEMBER #3. Even if desegregation stays I don’t
want to go to they stupid schools any way. I love Johnson
Lockett.
CHORUS MEMBER #4. Me too!

(The action switches to MRS. HENRY’s classroom where

YOUNGER RUBY and MRS. HENRY are in the middle of a
game of “Here We Go Around the Mulberry Bush.”)

YOUNGER RUBY & MRS. HENRY. Here we go ’round the

mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush.
Here we go ’round the mulberry bush
So early in the morning.
OLDER RUBY. It was so much fun playing with Mrs. Henry.

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(YOUNGER RUBY and MRS. HENRY end the game

breathless.)

YOUNGER RUBY. Can I ask you a question?

MRS. HENRY. Yes, you may.
YOUNGER RUBY. Why do you talk so funny?
MRS. HENRY. I’m not from the South.
YOUNGER RUBY. Where you from?
MRS. HENRY. I’m from the North—in Boston, Massachusetts.
YOUNGER RUBY. Where the Pilgrims from?
MRS. HENRY. Yes.
YOUNGER RUBY. They why we have Thanksgiving.
MRS. HENRY. Yes. It started in 1621.
YOUNGER RUBY. What are you going to make for
Thanksgiving dinner?
MRS. HENRY. A turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, the usual.
What about your family? What will they make?
YOUNGER RUBY. My mama’s a great cook. She’ll make
a turkey, red beans and rice, oyster dressing, a mirliton
casserole, spinach madeline and my favorites … banana
pudding and sweet potato pie!
MRS. HENRY. Sounds like I should be having Thanksgiving
dinner at your house.
YOUNGER RUBY. Is this the first time you ever moved
from Boston?
MRS. HENRY. No, I’ve lived and taught in Europe.
YOUNGER RUBY. Where’s that?

(MRS. HENRY takes a globe, spins it and points to Europe.)

MRS. HENRY. Way over here.

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46 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

YOUNGER RUBY. Across this great big ocean.

MRS. HENRY. That’s the Atlantic Ocean.
YOUNGER RUBY. What was that like?
MRS. HENRY. I loved it. I got to teach overseas in schools
for children whose folks were in the military.
YOUNGER RUBY. Were the schools segregated?
MRS. HENRY. They were all integrated.
YOUNGER RUBY. I wanna travel—one day.
MRS. HENRY. Everyone should travel and learn about other
cultures.
YOUNGER RUBY. I can do anything I put my mind to,
Mama says.
MRS. HENRY. Exactly.
YOUNGER RUBY. Did you go to a segregated school in
Boston?
MRS. HENRY. I went to a girls’ Latin school that was
integrated.
YOUNGER RUBY. So, you ain’t know nothing about
segregation.
MRS. HENRY. I know that it’s wrong.
YOUNGER RUBY. How long you lived in New Orleans?
MRS. HENRY. Just two months.
YOUNGER RUBY. Do people here make fun of you for
talking funny?
MRS. HENRY. Sometimes. In my face—behind my back—
YOUNGER RUBY. So, we ain’t so different.
MRS. HENRY. Not at all. We’re both outsiders.
YOUNGER RUBY. Would people in Boston make fun of me
for the way I talk?

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MRS. HENRY. I’m sure some people would, but who cares
what some people think, right? (Hands YOUNGER RUBY
an SRA card and a pencil.) All right, Ruby. When we finish
with this card we’ll move on to current events.
YOUNGER RUBY. And then will I be able to go outside and
play today?
MRS. HENRY. I don’t think that’s such a good idea, Ruby.
YOUNGER RUBY. The marshals are here.
MRS. HENRY. It’s still too dangerous for you. There’s plenty
of room to play in the classroom (Pushes card towards her.)
Now, let’s see how you answer these questions.
YOUNGER RUBY (reading). “Bobby never plays outside
when it is raining because he does not want: A, the sun to
shine; B, the rain to stop; C, to get wet; D, to stay indoors.”
C, to get wet?
MRS. HENRY. Very good.
YOUNGER RUBY (reading). “Children are glad when they
are old enough to go to school because they want to learn
to: A, sew; B, read; C, dance; D, talk.” B, read?
MRS. HENRY. Excellent.
YOUNGER RUBY (reading). “The children did not get to
school on time because the bus was: A, crowded; B, orange;
C, late; D, early. (Looks at MRS. HENRY.) E, segregated”?

(The sound of breaking glass outside startles them both for

a moment.)

OLDER RUBY. Even though I was the only one in Mrs.

Henry’s class, I could still hear the children sometimes in
the building and wanted to play with them.

(MRS. HENRY takes the card from YOUNGER RUBY and

double checks it, alarmed that what is happening outside

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48 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

has made it into the educational material. MRS. HENRY

puts the card back into the box.)

( “Why Can’t They Leave You Alone?”)

MRS. HENRY.
TODAY YOU LEARN THROUGH, LEARN THROUGH
YOUR FEARS, RUBY,
TODAY YOU SMILE THROUGH, SMILE THROUGH
YOUR TEARS, RUBY,
THE MARK OF HISTORY IS WRITTEN ON YOUR
FACE,
WHY CAN’T THEY LEAVE YOU ALONE?

THESE TRIALS ADD UP LIKE HEAVY STONES,

RUBY,
AND SUCH A BURDEN FOR TINY BONES, RUBY,
IS THIS YOUR DESTINY OR ARE YOU OUT OF
PLACE?
WHY CAN’T THEY LEAVE YOU ALONE?

THE WORLD IS NOT INVITING,

YOU KNOW IT’S HARD TO MAKE YOUR WAY,
WITH ALL THE WORLD IGNITING,
HOW CAN I MAKE IT SAFE IN THE WORLD
TODAY?

IT’S HARD TO SAY NOW, WHAT TIME CAN HEAL,

RUBY,
BUT THIS IS ONE THING TIME CAN’T CONCEAL,
RUBY,
WITH ALL THIS RAGE THAT’S POURING DOWN ON
YOU TODAY,
WHY CAN’T THEY LEAVE YOU ALONE?
WHY CAN’T THEY LEAVE YOU ALONE?

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YOUNGER RUBY.
WHY CAN’T THEY LEAVE ME ALONE?

(Beat.)

YOUNGER RUBY (cont’d). My daddy lost his job because

of me.
MRS. HENRY. Your father didn’t lose his job because of you,
but because some people are allowing their anger to get in
the way.
OLDER RUBY. I needed to hear that. I was feeling guilty.
MRS. HENRY (looking at the clock). Looks like we’re at
lunchtime, Ruby Nell. (Grabs her lunch.)
YOUNGER RUBY. Are you going to eat with the other
teachers?
MRS. HENRY. Yes, I’m going to eat with Miss Emmers. But
I’ll be back in thirty minutes and we’ll do current events.

(MRS. HENRY exits. YOUNGER RUBY looks after MRS.

HENRY longingly, then stares at her lunch bag.)

PROTESTOR #2 (yelling). I’m gonna poison you! I’ll find

a way!

(Lights transition.)

SCENE EIGHT
(A CHORUS MEMBER writes on the chalkboard “December
5, 1960. Morning.” A couple of CHORUS MEMBERS jump
rope and some start to put up Christmas decorations in their
respective classrooms.

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50 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

CHORUS MEMBERS #1 & #2. Three-six-nine,

The goose drank wine;
The monkey chewed tobacco
On the streetcar line
The line broke,
The monkey got choked,
And they all went to heaven
In a little rowing boat
CHORUS MEMBER #3. I heard Ruby Nell’s coming back
to Johnson Lockett!
CHORUS MEMBER #4. That’s a lie!

(YOUNGER RUBY is braiding JOANA’s hair.)

YOUNGER RUBY (to audience). A week in school and

Thanksgiving like that. I had a week off hanging out with
my brothers and sister and friends. It was hard around our
house ’cause Daddy had lost his job, but Mama and Daddy
tried to protect us from all that. Thanksgiving wasn’t as big
as it usually is, but Mama did make my banana pudding.
JOANA. Wonder if we gon’ get Christmas presents this year?
YOUNGER RUBY. Can’t worry about that right now. Gotta
keep Daddy in our prayers like Mama say.

(The lights shift. YOUNGER RUBY and MRS. HENRY do a

series of school activities to indicate the passage of time.)

OLDER RUBY. But I did worry. After Thanksgiving came

and went I had been back in school for a couple of weeks
and Christmas would soon be here. Some of the crowds
from the first few weeks had died down and more white
kids were coming to school—even if they weren’t in my
class—there was still protestors.

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MRS. HENRY. What current event do you have for me today?

OLDER RUBY. This question was really easy to answer.
YOUNGER RUBY. Me.
MRS. HENRY (leaping to the chalkboard). Very good, Ruby
Nell. Tell me—what are the differences that you notice
between you and me besides our skin color?
YOUNGER RUBY (thinking). Eye color?
MRS. HENRY. Very good.

(MRS. HENRY writes their different eye colors on opposite

sides of the chalkboard.)

YOUNGER RUBY (looks at one of her ponytails). Hair color?

MRS. HENRY (writing again). Our hair color is very
different. Great. What else?
YOUNGER RUBY. You speak another language besides
English and I don’t.

(MRS. HENRY writes “Latin” on her side of the board.)

MRS. HENRY. Anything else?

YOUNGER RUBY (excited). I can roll my tongue!
(Demonstrates.)
MRS. HENRY. And so can I. (Beat.) Can you roll your tongue
like this?

(MRS. HENRY demonstrates rolling her tongue into a

cloverleaf shape. YOUNGER RUBY tries, but can’t. They
burst out laughing.)

MRS. HENRY (cont’d, recovering). This is just the short

list of differences between the two of us in this room. If
all these desks were filled your classmates would note that

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52 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

each difference makes us unique from everyone else, but

never better or worse than the other person.
YOUNGER RUBY. I try to tell this to my brothers and sister.
OLDER RUBY. Mrs. Henry always broke things down where
they made sense.
YOUNGER RUBY. Why does there have to be hate? Mama
say God loves all of us.
MRS. HENRY. It’s hard for people to change once they’ve
gotten used to living a certain way. Some of them don’t
know any better and are afraid. But, you have to realize that
not everyone is like that.
OLDER RUBY. Even though I was six, I understood what
she meant. Change was never easy.
YOUNGER RUBY (looking longingly outside). I wish I
could play outside.
MRS. HENRY. I’ll see if I can ask the marshals if we can go
outside for a little bit one day.

(MRS. HENRY notices a roach near the paste jar and steps
on it. YOUNGER RUBY runs away.)

MRS. HENRY (cont’d). It’s OK, Ruby Nell. No need to be

scared.
OLDER RUBY. But I was scared …
YOUNGER RUBY (to audience). Of the truth Mrs. Henry
was about to learn.

(MRS. HENRY looks at the paste jar. The contents are not
stiff the way they should be, but liquid.)

MRS. HENRY. What is this?

(MRS. HENRY unscrews the lid on the jar and opens it. A
rank smell hits her.)

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YOUNGER RUBY. I can explain, Mrs. Henry …

MRS. HENRY. Did you dump your milk in here?

(YOUNGER RUBY nods.)

MRS. HENRY (cont’d). It’s OK, Ruby Nell. Is there any

thing else I should know about?

(YOUNGER RUBY sheepishly lifts her desk to reveal a

bunch of old peanut butter sandwiches.)

YOUNGER RUBY. I didn’t want to get poisoned, Mrs. Henry.

OLDER RUBY. Over the last few weeks I had been putting
my uneaten lunches in my desk, afraid that one of the
protestors would finally poison me like they promised.
Roaches were trying to get to my uneaten lunches. Every
day I could smell the food from the cafeteria and knew
there were a few students in the school who must’ve been
in there eating together—
YOUNGER RUBY. Except for me. It made me sad.

(MRS. HENRY dumps the offending lunches into the trash

can, then puts the trash can outside of the classroom. She
takes her lunch and sits across from YOUNGER RUBY.)

YOUNGER RUBY (cont’d). Please don’t be mad at me,

Mrs. Henry.
MRS. HENRY. I would never be mad at you, Ruby Nell. I
should have realized that you really didn’t want to eat alone.
YOUNGER RUBY. I really tried, Mrs. Henry.
MRS. HENRY. We’re both trying, Ruby Nell.

(MRS. HENRY hands YOUNGER RUBY her apple as the

lights transition.)

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54 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

SCENE NINE
(At YOUNGER RUBY’s house. A huge pile of presents and
gifts. YOUNGER RUBY and OLDER RUBY come into the
living room to see them. A CHORUS MEMBER comes in and
writes “December 23, 1960. Evening.” A couple of CHORUS
MEMBERS jump rope while some of the PROTESTORS thin
out. A Christmas song underscores the moment.)

OLDER RUBY. Just like that, we were on Christmas

break and word had gotten out about our family’s
financial struggles.
YOUNGER RUBY. Mama, it looks like Christmas come early.
LUCILLE. It has, baby.
OLDER RUBY. My family would never take handouts, but
today was different. Even the former First Lady, Eleanor
Roosevelt, wrote my family a letter.
YOUNGER RUBY. What are these?
LUCILLE. Word got out that we were in need, and God found
a way for people to help us.
JOANA. Daddy say he had lost his faith in neighbors.
LUCILLE. Never put our faith in people, but in God.
YOUNGER RUBY. At least one of the neighbors gave
Daddy a job painting houses.
LUCILLE. Take one present.

(YOUNGER RUBY shakes one of the presents.)

YOUNGER RUBY. But, aren’t all of these for me?

MILTON. No, they ain’t! You gotta share.
YOUNGER RUBY. Say who?
MICHAEL. Say Mama!

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YOUNGER RUBY. That ain’t fair, Mama!

LUCILLE. These presents are because people know what
this family is going through so that you can go to school
and they’ve offered to help from all around the country.
But, it also means that you can’t get all the attention. You
got to spread it around.
YOUNGER RUBY (reluctantly handing a present to
JOANA). Here, Joana.
JOANA. Thanks, Ruby Nell.

(YOUNGER RUBY hands one of the toys to MILTON and

another to MICHAEL, who happily take them and go off to
play.)

MICHAEL. Thank you, Ruby!

MILTON. You starting to talk funny.
OLDER RUBY. Meaning I was picking up Mrs. Henry’s
Boston accent.
LUCILLE. That ain’t polite, Michael. You sound just fine,
Ruby Nell.
YOUNGER RUBY. Thanks, Mama.

(LUCILLE gives YOUNGER RUBY a kiss on the forehead.)

LUCILLE . Ain’t sharing so much easier than being greedy?

OLDER RUBY. Mama was right. As usual.
YOUNGER RUBY. Last one outside is a rotten egg!

(YOUNGER RUBY runs outside and her siblings eagerly

follow her like the Pied Piper.

YOUNGER RUBY (cont’d, off). China Ball fight!

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56 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

(The BRIDGES SIBLINGS scream and the scene transitions

to night. YOUNGER RUBY re-enters and tries to get to
sleep, but she tosses and turns.)

YOUNGER RUBY (cont’d). Mama!

LUCILLE (running in). What is it, baby?
YOUNGER RUBY. There’s this hurt crushing my chest like
a hammer.
LUCILLE. You say your prayers?
YOUNGER RUBY. Yes, ma’am.
LUCILLE. Sometimes you gotta persist in prayer. Like with
Joshua and the walls of Jericho, I know God will break
down the walls of this situation.
YOUNGER RUBY. Sometimes I wonder if God hears me.
LUCILLE. He always hears us. Lay down.

(YOUNGER RUBY lies back down as LUCILLE begins to

recite “Dutch Lullaby.”)

LUCILLE (cont’d). Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,

And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is a wee one’s trundle-bed;
So shut your eyes while Mother sings
(Singing.) Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three—
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

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OLDER RUBY. And it seemed like I slept—until the new

year started.

(YOUNGER RUBY reluctantly goes back to sleep.)

SCENE TEN
(YOUNGER and OLDER RUBY are doing the long walk to
the school door. The MARSHALS are no longer present. A
CHORUS MEMBER writes on the chalkboard “February
14, 1961. Morning.” As the thinned-out PROTESTORS
continue to scream, YOUNGER RUBY and OLDER RUBY
stop. A Mardi Gras sound cue underscores the moment.)

OLDER RUBY. On my first day of school at William Frantz,

I thought it was Mardi Gras because of all the people and
now—here we were—it really was and I forgot to say my
prayers again before I came to school. Since I forgot to say
my prayers I decided the following was something I had
to do. If I didn’t do it neither group would ever have any
peace.
YOUNGER RUBY. Dear God, please be with me and with
these people too. Forgive them because they don’t know
what they’re doing. Just like your son Jesus Christ taught
us to do. Amen.

(YOUNGER RUBY and OLDER RUBY head into the

building. Before she makes it to the classroom she spots
YOLANDA, who is peeking out of her classroom. YOUNGER
RUBY stops and looks at her. They take each other in as if
frozen in time. Finally, YOUNGER RUBY speaks.)

YOUNGER RUBY (cont’d). Hi.

YOLANDA. Hi?

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58 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

TEACHER (off). Yolanda, get back over here this instant!

YOLANDA. Yes, Miss Emmers.
YOUNGER RUBY. That was the first time I seen someone
that was my age in the school, and all I wanted to do was
go play Jacks with her, but some grown-ups still wouldn’t
let us.
OLDER RUBY. Couldn’t figure out what all the fuss was
about when we were still segregated in our classrooms.

(YOLANDA darts away. YOUNGER RUBY goes into her

classroom and sees MRS. HENRY. MRS. HENRY runs over
to YOUNGER RUBY and checks her.)

OLDER RUBY. Mrs. Henry always watched me walk into

the school every day.
MRS. HENRY. Are you OK?
YOUNGER RUBY. I’m fine.
OLDER RUBY. By then I had learned that what my mama
said was true: When I prayed things were more peaceful.
MRS. HENRY. Why were you speaking to that mob? I saw
your lips moving, but I couldn’t make out what you were
saying to those people.
YOUNGER RUBY. I was praying for them.
MRS. HENRY (hugging YOUNGER RUBY). Ruby Nell, you
really are someone special.
YOUNGER RUBY. I tried to remember what you taught
me about Martin Luther King, Jr. this year. That it doesn’t
matter what the color of a person’s skin is.
MRS. HENRY. What a smart girl you are!
YOUNGER RUBY (looking outside). When will those
people get smart and join us?
MRS. HENRY. Soon … I hope.

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OLDER RUBY. Little did I know at McDonogh No. 19

things were changing too.

(A young white boy, GREG, walks past the jeering

PROTESTORS to joing GAIL, LEONA and TESSIE.)

PROTESTOR #2. Traitor!

TESSIE. What’s your name?
GREG. Greg.
LEONA. You the first white student to come to school with us.
GREG. I just moved here with my family. My daddy got fired
from his soda fountain job at Walgreen’s when they found
out he was gonna send me here.
GAIL. What grade you in?
GREG. Third.
LEONA. We in first.

(As the lights shift, YOUNGER RUBY sits in the classroom

with MRS. HENRY. In the back of the classroom, three
WHITE STUDENTS sit sheepishly. A CHORUS MEMBER
writes “May 1, 1961. Morning.” The PROTESTORS are all
but gone.)

PROTESTOR #2. You never said what jail was like.

PROTESTOR #1. A waste of time. I need to get back to school.

(PROTESTOR #1 drops his sign, as does PROTESTOR #2,

and they both exit.)

OLDER RUBY. Mrs. Henry fought tooth and nail to finally

have some of the white students that had come back to
school to join me for class for part of the day. The school
finally gave in.

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MRS. HENRY. Would you all like to move forward and join
the rest of the class?

(The WHITE STUDENTS take their books and move up to

shyly sit next to YOUNGER RUBY. OLDER RUBY sits on
the opposite side of the STUDENTS.)

MRS. HENRY. We’ll go around the room and do introductions.

We’ll start with me. My name is Mrs. Henry.
STUDENT #1. I’m Tom Jenkins, the fourth.
STUDENT #2. Sally Edwards.
STUDENT #3. Richard … My family calls me Ricky Williams.
STUDENT #4. Lizzie Devoreaux.
YOUNGER RUBY. My name is Ruby Nell Bridges.

(The recess bell rings. And the kids begin to run outside.
YOUNGER RUBY looks back at MRS. HENRY, who stays
in the classroom, but is excited to join the others she’s been
waiting on.)

OLDER RUBY. I looked at us in that classroom and realized

most of them couldn’t even remember why they weren’t
supposed to be in class with me. I was so excited to have
my first time on the playground after most of the school
year when I wasn’t allowed to come out here.
YOUNGER RUBY (approaching one of the WHITE
STUDENTS). Can I play with you?

(Pause.)

WHITE STUDENT. My mama tole me not to play with you.

YOUNGER RUBY. Why?
WHITE STUDENT. ’Cause you a darkie.

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OLDER RUBY. I really couldn’t blame her, because when

my mama told me not to do something, I always obeyed
her too.

(YOUNGER RUBY is about to walk away, but is stopped by

the WHITE STUDENT.)

WHITE STUDENT (thinking). You like Jacks?

YOUNGER RUBY. I play ’em with my sister all the time.
WHITE STUDENT. See, we ain’t so different after all.

(YOUNGER RUBY and the WHITE STUDENT begin to

play a game of Jacks together. The lights slowly fade.)

SCENE ELEVEN
(The lights slowly fade up on YOUNGER RUBY embracing
MRS. HENRY, who is removing some of the items from
the classroom wall. OLDER RUBY is nearby. A CHORUS
MEMBER writes on the chalkboard “Last Day of School.”)

OLDER RUBY. It’s hard to believe that it’s June and for me
the first grade ended a lot more quietly than it began.
MRS. HENRY. Oh, Ruby Nell. I’m really going to miss you.
YOUNGER RUBY (tearing up). Me too.
MRS. HENRY. You’re definitely the bravest person I’ve ever
met.
YOUNGER RUBY. Thank you, Mrs. Henry.
MRS. HENRY. Do you know what else?
YOUNGER RUBY. What?
MRS. HENRY. Both of us earned gold stars this year for
perfect attendance!
YOUNGER RUBY. I never wanted to miss a day knowing
you’d be here.

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62 Ruby: The Story of Ruby Bridges

MRS. HENRY. You did the same for me.

YOUNGER RUBY. I really will miss you, Mrs. Henry.
MRS. HENRY. Me too. But, let’s agree not to say goodbye.

(YOUNGER RUBY looks at OLDER RUBY.)

YOUNGER & OLDER RUBY. Agreed.

(The lights shift as GAIL, LEONA and TESSIE enter behind

OLDER RUBY.)

OLDER RUBY (holding her diploma). So, today me, Gail,

Leona and Tessie graduated from Francis T. Nicholls High,
an integrated high school. Sad thing is most people today
don’t know our names.

GAIL, LEONA and TESSIE move forward to join OLDER

RUBY.)

OLDER RUBY(cont’d). And what I don’t know now is that I

won’t ever go to college—but once I leave New Orleans I’ll
be recognized with three honorary doctorates—

(OLDER RUBY and YOUNGER RUBY hold hands.)

YOUNGER RUBY. And I’ll grow up soon to be a Civil

Rights activist teaching people that racism is a grown-up
disease—stop using us kids to spread it.

(#7: “When the Saints Go Marching In/This Little

Light of Mine”)
YOUNGER RUBY.
WE ARE TRAV’LIN’ IN THE FOOTSTEPS
OF THOSE WHO’VE GONE BEFORE,

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AND WE’LL ALL BE REUNITED,

ON A NEW AND SUNLIT SHORE,

OLDER RUBY.
SOME SAY THIS WORLD OF TROUBLE,
IS THE ONLY ONE WE NEED,
BUT I’M WAITING FOR THAT MORNING,
WHEN THE NEW WORLD IS REVEALED.

MRS. HENRY, LUCILLE & CHORUS.

OH, WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHIN’ IN
OH WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHIN’ IN
OH HOW I WANT TO BE IN THAT NUMBER
WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHIN’ IN

TESSIE, GAIL & LEONA.

OH WHEN THE SUN BEGINS TO SHINE
OH WHEN THE SUN BEGINS TO SHINE
OH HOW I WANT TO BE IN THAT NUMBER
WHEN THE SUN BEGINS TO SHINE
AND WHEN THE REVOLUTION COMES
AND WHEN THE REVOLUTION COMES
OH HOW I WANT TO BE IN THAT NUMBER
WHEN THE REVOLUTION COMES

ALL.
OH, WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHIN’ IN
OH WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHIN’ IN
OH HOW I WANT TO BE IN THAT NUMBER
WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHIN’ IN
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
I’M GONNA LET IT SHINE
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
I’M GONNA LET IT SHINE
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
I’M GONNA LET IT SHINE

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LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
I’M GONNA LET IT SHINE
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
I’M GONNA LET IT SHINE
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE
I’M GONNA LET IT SHINE
LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE, LET IT SHINE

(Lights down.)

End of Play

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