Starpattern: A One-Act Play

By Carolyn Gage

A play about two extraordinarily courageous young women who survived the 1966 mass shooting on the University of Texas at Austin. Claire Wilson, one of the first victims, lay wounded on the South Mall, unable to be rescued while the sniper was still active. Rita Starpattern ran out, at tremendous risk, lay down next to her, and engaged her in a conversation that kept her conscious and alive for over an hour.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 28, 2021
• ISBN: 9781300284208

Book preview

Copyright Page

Starpattern ©2022 Carolyn Gage

ISBN: 978-1-300-28420-8

All rights reserved.

Caution: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that Starpattern is subject to a royalty. It is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America, and of all countries covered by the International Copyright Union (including the Dominion of Canada and the rest of the British Commonwealth), and of all countries covered by the Pan-American Copyright Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention, and of all countries with which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations. All rights including, but not limited to, professional, amateur, recording, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio and television broadcasting, video or sound taping, all other forms of mechanical or electronic reproduction, such as information storage and retrieval systems and photocopying, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are expressly reserved. Particular emphasis is placed on the question of readings and all uses of this play by educational institutions, permission for which must be secured in writing from the author or the author's representative. No amateur or stock performance or reading of the play may be given without obtaining, in advance, the written permission of the Author.

All inquiries concerning professional and amateur performance rights should be addressed to the Author via her website at www.carolyngage.com.

Cover image: Gold Morning Star, Maker unknown Probably Oglala Lakota, Pine Ridge Reservation, SD, Circa 2000, International Quilt Museum

Summary

A One-Act Play

During the mass shooting at the University of Texas at Austin on August 1, 1966, the first victim outside the Tower was Claire Wilson, an eighteen-year-old student in her eighth month of pregnancy. She lay wounded on the broiling hot pavement of the South Mall for over an hour, next to the body of her dead partner, Tom Eckman, knowing that her baby