key moment 1

• Early on in the play, in the secluded room


  1. Modine and Owusu discussing Owusu's trial

  2. Modine offering to be his lawyer
• Jude Owusu


  • Stage left, in front of a table, looking at floor with slumped shoulders
• Modine


  • Enters with head high, straight posture, locks eyes with Owusu
• Owusu's mood shifts


  Hand gripping the other, furrowed eyebrows
• Modine asks


  In a low, questioning tone about how he is going to help Owusu with his trial
• Owusu straightens his posture and tenses shoulders


  Because he's confused why Modine is offering to be his lawyer
• Modine explains


  1. He's an affordable lawyer in a direct tone

  2. Pulls out a chair and sits on it
• Owusu says


  • In a quiet, low tone of voice about how his kids couldn't live with a dead dad
  • Pleads to Modine with his shoulders slumped about his family and what could happen if he was sentenced to jail
• Modine walks toward Owusu


  Places his hand on his hip and he gestures with other hand while he comforts Owusu with a soft, low tone of voice
• Owusu turns to Modine


  Relaxing his shoulders and his hands release from being held together to be placed on his sides
• Modine tells Owusu


  What he can and cannot say during his trial
• Owusu leans his upper body slightly toward Modine


  To indicate that he is listening and being attentive
• Owusu walks lazily to where Modine is standing


  But Modine starts for the door, but asks one last question to Owusu before leaving
• Modine asks Owusu


  In a direct, quiet, low tone of voice, why he helped Mayella Ewell with her chores
• Without hesitation Owusu says in an honest, soft tone, "because I felt sorry for her"
• Modine goes to the door but realises what he has just confessed to


  Modine stops in his path just before the door and turns his head slightly toward Owusu making it so the audience can see his side profile
• Modine says quickly


  In a stern tone that he cannot say that during his trial
• Modine turns for the door and walks out