Saved Alone
A Monodrama
This play is a monologue featuring Horatio Spafford, the man who wrote the words to the hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.”
Horatio Spafford was a wealthy Chicago lawyer and friend of D. L. Moody. In late 1873, Spafford’s wife and four daughters sailed to England to join Moody on one of his evangelistic crusades. Spafford, who had been detained in Chicago by business, was to follow a couple of weeks later. The ship his family was on collided with another vessel and sank. His daughters all drowned. His wife was spared. This monodrama takes place about one week after the tragedy. Spafford is now on his way to join his wife in Wales. The captain of the ship he’s on has just pointed out to him the spot where it was believed his daughters died. We are in his cabin, a simple room furnished with narrow bunk, a chair, a chest of drawers, and a porthole.
(Sitting on bunk) “Saved alone.” (Shakes head, staring at nothing) Two words. That’s all. Just two words and they split my life apart. (Beat) “Saved alone.” (He pulls a worn telegram from his coat pocket and smoothes it on his leg.) My wife’s telegram pounds at my brain until it is all I can hear. (Looks up in anguish.) Why, Lord? (Paces stage right) How can we ever come through this? (Paces to center) First our son, dead after a quick illness. Then our property - burned in that dreadful fire. And now our daughters, lost at sea. (Cries out. Paces to left) Must we endure all the trials of Job?
(To the porthole stage right, stands looking out. His voice flattens out.) The captain took me on deck this morning to show me the place they went down. In twelve short minutes, the sea claimed the ship and the lives of my daughters. Their bodies are down there in those anonymous depths. (Moves away) Oh, my Lord, the storm buffeting my soul matches the fury of the wind and sea that night just a week ago. (Uses hands to describe fog) The fog, the billowing waves, the second ship suddenly appearing too late to avoid a collision. (Drops hands to hug body, moves to stage left wall) In that moment, my whole life was thrown into chaos. (Leans head against arm on wall) I can hear their screams. The frightened voices calling for their daddy. Oh, the horror! To think I let them go to England without me!
(Turns and leans against wall, staring straight ahead) I stood at the rail beside the captain and stared at the peaceful waters of my daughters’ graves. (Moves slowly to chair and sits, visualizing each daughter) I saw again Bessie’s eager eyes as she would slip her small hand confidingly into mine. I saw once more Maggie’s scraped knees and tender affection for her stray puppies, Annie’s frown of concentration as she pored over yet another book. And Tanetta, blossoming into lovely womanhood, her eyes full of dreams that will never be realized. (Moves to stage left and gazes out) I will never see them again. Never feel their arms tightly around my neck. Never see them grow into mature, Christian women nurturing their children. My grandchildren. The grandchildren my wife and I will never have.
(Looks around cabin) My life has become a wasteland. How can I bear this pain? My girls, torn from us so abruptly, so violently? (He sinks onto the bunk, his shoulders shaking with his grief, his hands shredding the telegram.) And my wife, so frail, so alone. (Deep groan) What she must be going through, alone in Wales? She was there. She heard their frightened calls and was helpless to come to their aid. The sea nearly claimed her, too! How is she taking this?
(He smoothes out the telegram) “Saved alone.” Good news and bad news. She was saved, but only her. She was spared me. And my girls are lost.
(He carefully refolds the telegram and replaces it in his pocket. He goes to the porthole and looks out.) The sea, so unforgiving in its rage that terrifying night. Today it is so peaceful. Like a river. The sun rolls back the clouds and glints off the water in a golden sparkle, warming me with God’s peace. I see Your face there, my Jesus. You were there. There with them. (Gazes over audience heads down center) You are here. (Spreads arms out and then hugs) My girls are sheltered in your embrace. They are not lost at sea. They are nestled in your care. Forever.
(He moves away and stands by his bunk.) My sorrows engulf me but you are here. You regard me in my helpless estate and you care. You know how I feel. You, too, know grief. And loss. You have known the darkness. And you bring me out of that darkness into your light. You have given much to me. You shed your blood for me. You know. You know. (He sighs, his face relaxing.) It is well. (A pause as he collects himself, a wiping of tears) The sorrows still fill my heart. The loss will always be there, an inescapable part of me. But you are here. Here with me.
I go now to my beloved wife who needs me as I need her. As we both need You. It is well. (He sits slowly.) You are here. Yes, all is well with my soul. (He bows his head and the curtain slowly closes of the lights fade out as the music, It Is Well With My Soul swells and then fades out.)
Curtain
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Leaping Off the Page: Any Time of the Year Edition Page 17