(ACT ONE continued)|
That evening alone and cold, Virginia is contemplating the night sky
when Luke Halloran  joins her, and together they discuss the cold  and
Luke’s untimely death.            

But he is not afraid of death, and thinks it would be a romantic notion
that he’ll be laid to rest on the trail to California and become  “A PART  OF
THE LAND.”

A few days later at a campsite, Virginia is watching men carrying wood
for Luke’s coffin. At their last get-together at wagon side that night, Luke and
Virginia sing “I WILL MISS SEEING YOU.’  He dies, somewhere in the Wasatch.

As the Donner Party struggles forward near the Humbolt River, John Synder
A  teamster  for James Reed, looses his temper over the slow going up a sandy
hill. He sees in the distance the first winter storm approaching and he knows
they are doomed.  ‘THERE’S A STORM COMIN.”  Synder challenges a fight
with another drover, and as Synder flicks his whip, James intervenes and his
struck over his right eye. As Margaret now tries to help her husband, Synder
strikes out again.  This time Reed takes a knife and plunges it into Synder’s
chest.  Synder dies.

George Donner proclaims Reed’s sentence for murder “banishment”;
Margaret insists that it was self-defense, but the pioneers are becoming a
Mob, demanding revenge.

Reed is forced to leave the wagon train  to go alone over the summit
and into California.

Later that evening Little Patty Reed is talking to her dolly about what a
Papa is; and  Margaret searches the mountain for her husband. Alone on
the summit, James sings of his love for his wife, “ MY SWEETHEART’S
ARMS”.

Looking at the snow falling heavily on the Sierra Nevada Mountains,
Virginia knows the wagon train won’t see California this year, and  quite
possibly never.  She keeps her  thoughts to herself,  “I TELL NO ONE”.

As she remembers the turquoise rock from Old Bill, Virginia makes a
Vow to God to become a Catholic if the family is rescued soon. She gazes
at the mountain as:   
                                          THE CURTAIN FALLS
                                          INTERMISSION
 (click to continue)