“AMY BENEATH THE MILL” Performed Da’Outlaw Chapter 10 Written by TWELVE 12Gauge858 Music….Pressure Music Intro — Water dripping, wooden floor creaking, low cello] [Amy — whispered female voice] Zoec… Keep her talking. [Iron latch clicks] [Amy] I’ll find the other door. [Verse 1 — Gritty male outlaw narrator, sparse resonator guitar] Amy lifted up the floorboard Found an opening below Cold stone running toward the creek bed Where the old mill waters flow White sleeve caught against the iron She pulled free without a sound Three short taps against the piping Two held beats beneath the ground Upstairs Zoec heard the signal Kept the woman talking slow Amy slipped into the darkness Where the lantern couldn’t go [Chorus — Dark outlaw blues, deep male harmonies] BENEATH THE MILL! WHERE THE COLD WATER RUNS! Every secret needs a hiding place Every shadow hides someone! BENEATH THE MILL! WHERE THE OLD STONES LIE! You can chain a Compadre’s hands But you can’t chain her mind! [Verse 2 — Rolling bass, muted percussion] Amy crawled beneath the timber Heard two voices through the stone One said, “Outlaw’s getting closer.” Other said, “He ain’t alone.” Then a pair of muddy bootprints Crossed the channel toward the east Fresh-cut rope beneath a lantern And a coat upon a beam She could hear the wagon turning Somewhere on the road above Then a silver chain came rattling Amy knew she’d heard enough [Chorus — Full male outlaw harmonies] BENEATH THE MILL! WHERE THE COLD WATER RUNS! Every secret needs a hiding place Every shadow hides someone! BENEATH THE MILL! WHERE THE OLD STONES LIE! You can chain a Compadre’s hands But you can’t chain her mind! [Breakdown — Instruments drop, water and distant footsteps] [Amy — whispered] Two sets of prints… One going in. One coming out. [Bootsteps overhead] [Unknown Man — spoken] Check the lower passage. [Amy — whispered] Well… There goes the easy way. [Verse 3 — Tense slide guitar, rising heartbeat] Amy followed where the water Disappeared beneath the floor Found a narrow wooden ladder And a rusted iron door Scratched upon the lower hinges Names she didn’t recognize But beneath them was a symbol She’d seen back in Mercy Creek Three small circles joined together One long line beneath the three Snake, Desire, Lady Temptation— Same mark carved into the tree [Final Breakdown — Low cello, no drums] [Amy — whispered] Three positions… One operation. [Iron door slowly opens] [Unknown Man — spoken] You ain’t supposed to be down here. [Amy] Neither are you. [Silence] [Unknown Man] You know who I am? [Amy] No. [Unknown Man] Then ask Da’ Outlaw… Why he buried my name. [One heavy metallic strike] [Hard cut to silence]
