Posted on May 22, 2012 at 2:23 am

Where Will You Stand When The Flood Comes?

SLATON
I have an announcement to make: Leo Frank is no longer a prisoner in the Fulton Tower. At five o’clock this morning, he was removed to another prison location, which will not be disclosed at this time.

WATSON
Will you walk with your head held high?

SLATON
Two thousand years ago, another governor washed his hands and turned a Jew over to a mob. Ever since then, that governor’s name has been a curse.

WATSON
Or move aside when they’re passion’ you by?

SLATON
If today another Jew went to his grave because I failed to do my duty, I would all my life find his blood on my hands.

WATSON
Will you run when the fires are fanned?

SLATON
I have reviewed all the evidence in the case of the State of Georgia against Leo Frank, and I have decided to commute his sentence from the death penalty to imprisonment for life.

WATSON
And where will you stand when the flood comes?

SLATON
All I wish now is that the people of Georgia withhold judgment until they have given calm and careful consideration to the statement I have prepared on the case.

WATSON
Will you ride by the side of God
or will you hide in the soil and the sod?
Will you fight for the soul of your land?
Well, where will you stand when the flood comes?
Where will you stand when the flood comes?

SLATON (simultaneously)
I am sure that my action has been the right one, the just one and the one all patriotic Georgians will agree with. Of course I care for the public approbation, but should I have failed to commute Frank I would have been guilty, as I see it, of murder.

CRAIG
Care to comment, Mr. Dorsey?

DORSEY
I was not a part of the Governor’s decision, Mr. Watson. I’m as surprised as you are.

WATSON & ENSEMBLE
Will you beg for the Jew’s reward
or walk with us at the side of the lord?
Put your soul in the devil’s hand?
Well, where will you stand when the flood comes?

SLATON (simultaneously)
I can plow and hoe and live in obscurity if necessary, but I could not afford not to commute him. And I believe the people will realize that…

WATSON
Where will you stand?

SLATON
This was my only course.

WATSON
Where will you stand?

SLATON
A plain case of duty as I saw it.

WATSON & ENSEMBLE
Where will you stand?

DORSEY
With you, Mr. Watson. I’ll be proud to stand with you.

WATSON
God bless the next Governor of Georgia!

DORSEY
Yes, I see through the fog and dust,
so let the mob do whatever they must.
Slaton jumps at the Jew’s command –

DORSEY & WATSON
Well, where will you stand when the flood comes?

WATSON
Where will you stand?

DORSEY & WATSON
Where will you stand?

ALL
See the blood as a city grieves!
See the stain that the Jew-money leaves!
Traitors won’t keep the mobs at bay!
Someone’s gonna pay when the flood comes!

WATSON & DORSEY
Mary, Mary, the angel child –
still your name and your soul are defiled.
Thank God you can’t hear the things they say –

DORSEY
But someone’s gonna pay!

DORSEY & WATSON
Someone’s gonna pay!

ALL
Someone’s gonna pay!
Georgia, home of the strong and sure,
fight like hell for the land of the pure!
Teach the traitor to run away!

Georgia, home of the strong and sure,
fight like hell for the land of the pure!
Teach the traitor to run away!

Georgia, home of the strong and sure,
fight like hell for the land of the pure!
Teach the traitor to run away!
Someone’s gotta pay!
Someone’s gotta pay!
Someone’s gotta pay!
Someone’s gotta pay!

DORSEY & WATSON
Someone’s gotta pay when the flood comes!