by: Delilah Kelly

January 1862

Months had gone by and Christmas had a special flavor this time. Rosco was not there, nor was Phil. Katrina had asked Mrs. Coltrane if she could invite her parents for Christmas. Her mother-in-law agreed heartily. She loved Katrina so much, even more since she had learnt that the young woman was carrying Rosco’s child. She had even scolded her daughter-in-law for her going out at night to help MaryAnne for the Sheriff’s Department. MaryAnne had deemed safe to explain her aunt what these evenings spent outside were all about.

“I understand, Katrina. But it won’t do you any good. Think of the baby. Besides, ‘tis not suitable for a lady to go out like yer doing while pregnant.”

Katrina exchanged a quick, amused glance with MaryAnne. The young Deputy replied in her stead. “Katrina, don’t worry. My aunt’s only trying to do with ya what she could not do with me !”

Mrs. Coltrane smiled – not so differently from Rosco. “MaryAnne’s right indeed, Katrina. I really wonder how she’s gonna get a husband for herself if she spends all her time in the saddle !”

The three women laughed heartily. “Law enforcement runs high in our family, Katrina. Look at Rosco, at MaryAnne, and now yourself… Maybe the little one’s gonna be the next Hazzard Sheriff after all.”

“I think we can leave him some time to grow old before, eh ?” Katrina said in a giggle. “In the meantime, I could carry out these Sheriff’s business here at home. What do you think of that, MaryAnne ?”

The young Coltrane woman thought for a while. “Well… why not indeed… I may bring ya all the paperwork that needs to be done so that you may do it here. No need fer ya to ride to the County courthouse at night. You may even have the whole day to carry it out.”

By the end of November, the ‘little arrangement’ was thus set up differently. MaryAnne used to bring the paperwork that needed to be done and Katrina was doing it in her bedroom. She was alone too there and could work in peace.

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by: Kristy Duke

Rosco P. Coltrane

Above me the ancient brown dusty ceiling fan swirls quickly above us to attempt to cool down the overly hot room as the fan whizzes almost rhythmically. I stare tiredly down at my paper work that seems to go on forever and I sigh at my mama’s lecture years ago back in high school about procrastinating, wishing that I would have listened to her as I look at my stack of paper work of reports. I place another report on the smaller stack of papers that is all that I got done as the doors open and I look up to see Enos stepping in, his face lit up in happiness of something.

“What got you smilin’ dipstick? You ain’t spose to be smilin’ at work, this is work and at work you work,” I snap at him and he glares down at the old floor as he fights to hide the grin, “What’s so good in that little world of yours?”

“Nuttin’ sir, it’s just. . .it’s just,” he says embarrassingly, “it’s just I got invited to dinner tonight at the farm with Daisy.”

“The Dukes?” I question and roll my eyes at him, “Enos! You know as well as I do that them Dukes are bad and are on the opposite side of us, which is the law, mind you! You are a law man and law men don’t integrate with criminals, especially criminals like them Dukes!”

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by: Keith

Act One
(Opening shot of Bo+Luke driving along the backroads of Hazzard in the General Lee.)

BALLADEER: Now, friends and neighbors, this is one of the most deceiving sights you’ll ever see in Hazzard County. But it ain’t because you see Bo and Luke Duke tearin’ up the back roads of Hazzard in the General Lee. That’s normal.

(Rosco pulls out from behind a tree in his patrol car and starts after General Lee.)

BALLADEER: And it ain’t ’cause Rosco’s chasin’ after the General. That’s normal, too.

BO: (into cb mike) Dang it, Rosco! We ain’t got time to play right now.

LUKE: Yeah, that mortgage payment is due in town, in Boss’s hand, in ten minutes. Which is probably why he’s got Rosco out watchin this road instead of one of his usual speed traps.

BO: Hang on, Luke. We loose him every other day, I ain’t about to make today no different. ‘Specially with the farm on the line.

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by: Keith

(Bo bends over and picks up the rag. Luke reaches out to stop him, letting his crutches fall to his side.)

LUKE: Bo, are you nuts?? You’re gonna….

(Luke’s speech trails off as he and Bo make eye contact, realizing what they are both doing. They are now both squatting on the floor. Bo has Cooter’s rag in his hand. Luke has one hand around Bo’s arm. After a short pause…)

LUKE: You alright?

BO: (grinning) …I think so….

LUKE: How do ya feel?

BO: A little stiff, but other than that….

LUKE: …Everything works.

(Bo and Luke slowly stand. They laugh and hug each other.)

COOTER: Hey, Y’all, wait a minute. Just wait a minute….y’all are sure everything works now? It’s all bendin’ and stretchin’ like it should?

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by: Delilah Kelly

In a nation breaking apart, a family remained united.[1]

March 1861

Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane was patrolling in the county. The spring air would have been almost perfect had not it been for these rumors of war hanging around. He sighed deeply. Mixed feelings of love for this land and of sorrow for the tribulations to come oppressed his heart in his chest. But he knew that things could not go on forever that way. He knew that the present state of affairs could not continue. The Northern Union was putting more and more pressure on the Confederate States. No, things could not go on like this and he knew that the day was coming closer and closer when everything would break up.

His horse had led him towards the Evans farm. A path he knew very well. For few months already, Rosco was dating Joe Evans’ daughter, Katrina. He had noticed her at church, few days after her sixteenth birthday. He had found her real pretty, a real young lady now. He had fallen in love with her right on the spot. He had approached her since then and much to his surprise, the girl had accepted him as her suitor, though he was much older than her. He was in his early forties now and still unmarried. Time for me to get a wife, he had thought then. Unfortunately for him, he was the County Sheriff only, his estate was made up of only a house with some bits of land around – not even a farm. And though he was one of the most powerful men in the County, he could not pretend to marry a planter’s daughter. He had no slaves on his own, not even one or two, like many farmers did. He was living with his mother and his younger cousin, MaryAnne, who was his Deputy too.

By the time he had noticed Katrina, Rosco was desperate to find a wife. He thought too that even old Joe Evans would not consider him as a possible husband for his daughter. But Rosco was too harsh on himself and he quickly discovered that the farmer would accept him gladly. After all, to be kin with the County Sheriff would not be a bad move… Joe Evans was a shrewd farmer and he had heartily agreed to this courtship. He did not object to the age difference between Rosco and Katrina. In these times, girls used to marry around sixteen or seventeen, sometimes at fifteen, no matter what the age of the man could be. Evans was aware too that his own daughter could not marry a planter’s son either. His family was not even invited to the barbecues planters used to organize in their sumptuous houses.

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