[Quick Summary: After a New Hampshire farmer exchanges his soul to the devil for money, his life spirals, and asks Daniel Webster to defend him in a trial.]
How do you introduce the Devil in an interesting way?
This script uses a great trick of psychology: show the temptation before introducing the tempter.
In the scene below:
- Jabez (protagonist) is a poor farmer, who is behind on payments to the landlord.
- He lives with his wife Mary and his mother.
- Mary has just taken ill.
- Jabez is now hurrying to pay the landlord.
- Jabez often pays with seed instead of cash.
- Notice what showing the temptation first does to Jabez's psychology. This "favor" puts him in a more receptive mind to listen to the Devil.
- This is also a good introduction for the Devil. We see why he's not to be trusted before we actually see him.
THE BARN: Jabez takes a sack of seed, throws it on his shoulder. At this moment the sack opens and all the seed runs out into a dirty pool of water.
JABEZ: That's enough to make a man sell his soul to the devil! And I would, too, for about two cents!
He stops abruptly, realizing what he has said and appalled by it. He looks around him, fearfully.
JABEZ: I guess nobody heard. I hope not.
Jabez jams his hands in his pockets and a horrified expression comes over his face. He slowly takes out his right hand. In the palm are two big copper pennies.
A VOICE (speaking smoothly): Good evening, Neighbor Stone.
Jabez turns around and sees a figure -- well-dressed, looking rather like a salesman. Jabez stares at him, speechless.
THE VOICE: My name is Scratch -- I often go by that name in New England.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED: This is another way to introduce a character that I'd not considered before, i.e., their actions first, the character second.
The Devil and Daniel Webster (a,k.a. All That Money Can Buy)(1941)
by Dan Totheroh and Stephen Vincent Benet
Based on the story, "The Devil and Daniel Webster" by Stephen Vincent Benet
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