Fire!!/Color Struck
Color Struck
A Play in Four Scenes
Time: Twenty years ago and present. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Place: A Southern City. | |
| PERSONS | ||
John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
A light brown-skinned man | |
Emmaline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
A black woman | |
Wesley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
A boy who plays an accordion | |
Emmaline's Daughter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
A very white girl | |
Effie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
A mulatto girl | |
| A Railway ConductorA Doctor | ||
| Several who play mouth organs, guitars, banjos. | ||
| Dancers, passengers, etc. | ||
Setting.—Early night. The inside of a "Jim Crow" railway coach. The car is parallel to the footlights. The seats on the down stage side of the coach are omitted. There are the luggage racks above the seats. The windows are all open. They are exits in each end of the car—right and left.
Action.—Before the curtain goes up there is the sound of a locomotive whistle and a stopping engine, loud laughter, many people speaking at once, good-natured shreiks, strumming of stringed instruments, etc. The ascending curtain discovers a happy lot of Negroes boarding the train dressed in the gaudy, twdry best of 1900. They are mostly in couples—each couple bearing a covered-over market basket which the men hastily deposit in the racks as they scramble for seats. There is a litle friendly pushing and shoving. One pair just miss a seat three times, much to the enjoyment of the crowd. Many "plug" silk hats are in evidence, also sun-flowers in button holes. The women are showily dressed in the manner of the time, and quite conscious of their finery. A few seats remain unoccupied.
nter Effie (left) above, with a basket. One of the Men (standing, lifting his "plug" in a grand manner). Howdy do, Miss Effie, you'se lookin' jes lak a rose.
(Effie blushes and is confused. She looks up and down for a seat.) Fack is, if you wuzn't walkin' long, ah'd think you wuz a rose— (he looks timidly behind her and the others laugh). Looka here, where's Sam at?
Effie (tossing her head haughtily). I don't know an' I don't keer.
The Man (visibly relieved). Then lemme scorch you to a seat. (He takes her basket and leads her to a seat center of the car, puts the basket in the rack and seats himself beside her with his hat at a rakish angle.)
Man (sliding his arm along the back of the seat). How come Sam ain't heah—y'll on a bust?
Effie (angrily). A man dat don't buy me nothin tuh put in mah basket, ain't goin' wid me tuh no cake walk. (The hand on the seat touches her shoulder and she thrusts it away). Take yo' arms from 'round me, Dinky! Gwan hug yo' Ada!
Man (in mock indignation). Do you think I'd look at Ada when Ah got a chance tuh be wid you? Ah always wuz sweet on you, but you let ole Mullet-head Sam cut me out.
Another Man (with head out of the window). Just look at de darkies coming! (With head insite coach.) Hey, Dinky! Heah come Ada wid a great big basket.
(Dinky jumps up from beside Effie and rushes to exit right. In a moment they're-enter and take a seat near entrance. Everyone in coach laughs. Dinky's girl turns and calls back to Effie.)
Girl. Where's Sam, Effie?
Effie. Lawd knows, Ada.
Girl. Lawd a mussy! Who you gointer walk de cake wid?
Effie. Nobody, Ah reckon. John and Emma gointer win it nohow. They's the bestest cake-walkers in dis state.
Ada. You'se better than Emma any day in de week. Cose Sam cain't walk lake John. (She stands up and scans the coach.) Looka heah, ain't John an' Emma going? They ain't on heah!
(The locomotive bell begins to ring.)
Effie. Mah Gawd, s'pose dey got left!
Man (with head out of window). Heah they come, nip and tuck—whoo-ee! They'se gonna make it! (He waves excitedly.) Come on Jawn! (Everybody crowds the windows, encouraging them by gesture and calls. As the whistle blows twice, and the train begins to move, they enter panting and laughing at left. The only seat left is the one directly in front of Effie.)
Dinky (standing). Don't y'all skeer us no mo' lake dat! There couldn't be no cake walk thout y'all. Dem shad-mouf St. Augustine coons would win dat cake and we would have tuh kill 'em all bodaciously.
John. It was Emmaline nearly made us get left. She says I wuz smiling at Effie on the street car and she had to get off and wait for another one.
Emma (removing the hatpins from her hat, turns furiously upon him). You wuz grinning at her and she wuz grinning back jes lake a ole chessy cat!
John. (positively). I wuzn't.
Emma (about to place her hat in rack). You wuz. I seen you looking jes lake a possum.
John. I wuzn't. I never gits a chance tuh smile at nobody—you won't let me.
Emma. Jes the same every time you sees a yaller face, you takes a chance. (They sit down in peeved silence for a minute.)
Dinky. Ada, les we all sample de basket. I bet you got huckleberry pie.
Ada. No I aint, I got peach an' tater pies, but we aint gonna tetch a thing tell we gits tuh de hall.
Dinky (mock alarm). Naw, don't do dat! It's all right tuh save the fried chicken, but pies is always et on trains.
Ada. Aw shet up! (He struggles with her for a kiss. She slaps him but finally yields.)
John (looking behind him). Hellow, Effie, where's Sam?
Effie. Deed, I don't know.
John. Y'all on a bust?
Emma. None ah yo' bizness, you got enough tuh mind yo' own self. Turn 'round!
(She puts up a pouting mouth and he snatches a kiss. She laughs just as he kisses her again and there is a resounding smack which causes the crowd to laugh. And cries of "Oh you kid!" "Salty dog!")
(Enter conductor left calling tickets cheerfully and laughing at the general merriment.)
Conductor. I hope somebody from Jacksonville wins this cake.
John. You live in the "Big Jack?"
Conductor. Sure do. And I wanta taste a piece of that cake on the way back tonight.
John. Jes rest easy—them Augustiners aint gonna smell it. (Turns to Emma.) Is they, baby?
Emma. Not if Ah kin help it.
Somebody with a guitar sings: "Ho babe, mah honey taint no lie."
(The conductor takes up tickets, passes on and exits right.)
Wesley. Look heah, you cake walkers—y'all oughter git up and limber up yo' joints. I heard them folks over to St. Augustine been oiling up wid goose-grease, and over to Ocala they been rubbing down in snake oil.
A Woman's Voice. You better shut up, Wesley, you just joined de church last month. Somebody's going to tell the pastor on you.
Wesley. Tell it, tell it, take it up and smell it. Come on out you John and Emma and Effie, and limber up.
John. Naw, we don't wanta do our walking steps—nobody won't wanta see them when we step out at the hall. But we kin do something else just to warm ourselves up.
(Wesley begins to play "Goo Goo Eyes" on his accordian, the other instruments come in one by one and John and Emma step into the aisle and "parade" up and down the aisle—Emma holding up her skirt, showing the lace on her petticoats. They two-step back to their seat amid much applause.)
Wesley. Come on out, Effie! Sam aint heah so you got to hold up his side too. Step on out. (There is a murmur of applause as she steps into the aisle. Wesley strikes up "I'm gointer live anyhow till I die" It is played quite spiritedly as Effie swings into the pas-me-la—)
Wesley (in ecstasy). Hot stuff I reckon! Hot stuff I reckon! (The musicians are stamping. Great enthusiasm. Some clap time with hands and feet. She hurls herself into a modified Hoochy Koochy, and finishes up with an ecstatic yell.)
There is a babble of talk and laughter and exultation.
John (applauding loudly). If dat Effie can't step nobody can.
Emma. Course you'd say so cause it's her. Everything she do is pretty to you.
John (caressing her). Now don't say that, Honey. Dancing is dancing no matter who is doing it. But nobody can hold a candle to you in nothing.
(Some men are heard tuning up—getting pitch to sing. Four of them crowd together in one seat and begin the chorus of "Daisies Won't Tell" John and Emma grow quite affectionate.)
John (kisses her). Emma, what makes you always picking a fuss with me over some yaller girl.
What makes you so jealous, nohow? I don't do nothing.
(She clings to him, but he turns slightly away. The train whistle blows, there is a slackening of speed. Passengers begin to take down baskets from their racks.)
Emma. John! John, don't you want me to love you, honey?
John (turns and kisses her slowly). Yes, I want you to love me, you know I do. But I don't like to be accused o' ever light colored girl in the world. It hurts my feeling. I don't want to be jealous like you are.
(Enter at right Conductor, crying "St. Augustine, St. Augustine." He exits left. The crowd has congregated at the two exits, pushing good-naturedly and joking. All except John and Emma. They are still seated with their arms about each other.)
Emma (sadly). Then you don't want my love, John, cause I can't help mahself from being jealous. I loves you so hard, John, and jealous love is the only kind I got.
(John kisses her very feelingly.)
Emma. Just for myself alone is the only way I knows how to love.
(They are standing in the aisle with their arms about each other as the curtain falls.)
Scene II
Setting—A weather-board hall. A large room with the joists bare. The place has been divided by a curtain of sheets stretched and a rope across from left to right. From behind the curtain there are occasional sounds of laughter, a note or two on a stringed instrument or accordion. General stir. That is the dance hall. The front is the ante-room where the refreshments are being served. A "plank" seat runs all around the hall, along the walls. The lights are kerosene lamps with reflectors. They are fixed to the wall. The lunch-baskets are under the seat. There is a table on either side upstage with a woman behind each. At one, ice cream is sold, at the other, roasted peanuts and large red-and-white sticks of peppermint candy.
People come in by twos and three, laughing, joking, horse-plays, gauchily flowered dresses, small waists, bulging hips and busts, hats worn far back on the head, etc. People from Ocala greet others from Palatka, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, etc.
Some find seats in the ante-room, others pass on into the main hall. Enter the Jacksonville delegation, laughing, pushing proudly.
Dinky. Here we is, folks—here we is. Gointer take dat cake on back tuh Jacksonville where it belongs.
Man. Gwan! Whut wid you mullet-head Jacksonville Coons know whut to do wid a cake. It's gointer stay right here in Augustine where de good cake walkers grow.
Dinky. Taint no 'Walkers' never walked till John and Emmaline prance out—you mighty come a tootin'.
Great langhing and joshing as more people come in. John and Emma are encouraged, urged on to win.
Emma. Let's we git a seat, John, and set down.
John. Sho will—nice one right over there. (They push over to wall seat, place basket underneath, and sit. Newcomers shake hands with them and urge them on to win.)
(Enter Joe Clarke and a small group. He is a rotund, expansive man with a liberal watch chain and charm.)
Dinky (slapping Clarke on the back). If you don't go 'way from here! Lawdy, if it aint Joe.
Clarke (jovially). Ah thought you had done forgot us people in Eatonville since you been living up here in Jacksonville.
Dinky. Course Ah aint. (Turning.) Looka heah folks! Joe Clarke oughta be made chairman uh dis meetin'—Ah mean Past Great-Grand Master of Ceremonies, him being the onliest mayor of de onliest colored town in de state.
General Chorus. Yeah, let him be—thass fine, etc.
Dinky (setting his hat at a new angle and throwing out his chest). And Ah'll scorch him to de platform. Ahem!
(Sprinkling of laughter as Joe Clarke is escorted into next room by Dinky.)
(The musicians are arriving one by one during this time. A guitar, accordian, mouth organ, banjo, etc. Soon there is a rapping for order heard inside and the voice of Joe Clarke.)
Joe Clarke. Git yo' partners one an' all for de gran' march! Git yo' partners, gent-mens!
A Man (drawing basket from under bench). Let's we all eat first.
(John and Emma go buy ice-cream. They coquettishly eat from each other's spoons. Old Man Lizzimore crosses to Effie and removes his hat and bows with a great flourish.)
Lizzimore. Sam ain't here t'night, is he, Effie.
Effie (embarrassed). Naw suh, he aint.
Lizz. Well, you like chicken? (Extends arm to her.) Take a wing!
(He struts her up to the table amid the laughter of the house. He wears no collar.)
John (squeezes Emma's hand). You certainly is a ever loving mamma—when you aint mad.
Emma (smiles sheepishly). You oughtn't to make me mad then.
John. Ah don't make you! You makes yo'self mad, den blame it on me. Ah keep on tellin' you Ah don't love nobody but you. Ah knows heaps uh half-white girls Ah could git ef Ah wanted to. But (he squeezes her hard again) Ah jus' wants you! You know what they say! De darker de berry, de sweeter de taste!
Emma (pretending to pout). Oh, you tries to run over me an' keep it under de cover, but Ah won't let yuh. (Both laugh.) Les' we eat our basket!
John. Alright. (He pulls the basket out and she removes the table cloth. They set the basket on their knees and begin to eat fried chicken.)
Male Voice. Les' everybody eat—motion's done carried. (Everybody begins to open baskets. All have fried chicken. Very good humor prevails. Delicacies are swapped from one basket to the other. John and Emma offer the man next them some supper. He takes a chicken leg. Effie crosses to John and Emma with two pieces of pie on a plate.
Effie. Y'll have a piece uh mah blueberry pie—it's mighty nice! (She proffers it with a timid smile to Emma who "freezes" up instantly.)
Emma. Naw! We don't want no pie. We got cocoanut layer-cake.
John. Ah—Ah think ah'd choose a piece uh pie, Effie. (He takes it.) Will you set down an' have a snack wid us? (He slides over to make room.)
Effie (mervously). Ah, naw, Ah got to run on back to mah basket, but Ah thought maybe y'll mout' want tuh taste mah pie. (She turns to go.)
John. Thank you, Effie. It's mighty good, too. (He eats it. Effie crosses to her seat. Emma glares at her for a minute, then turns disgustedly away from the basket. John catches her shoulder and faces her around.)
John (pleadingly). Honey, be nice. Don't act lak dat!
Emma (jerking free). Naw, you done ruint mah appetite now, carryin' on wid dat punkin-colored ole gal.
John. Whut kin Ah do? If you had a acted polite Ah wouldn't a had nothin' to say.
Emma. Naw, youse jus' hog-wile ovah her cause she's half-white! No matter whut Ah say, you keep carryin' on wid her. Act polite? Naw Ah aint gonna be deceitful an' bust mah gizzard fuh nobody! Let her keep her dirty ole pie ovah there where she is!
John (looking around to see if they are overheard). Sh-sh! Honey, you mustn't talk so loud.
Emma (louder). Ah-Ah aint gonna bite mah tongue! If she don't like it she can lump it. Mah back is broad—(John tries to cover her mouth with his hand). She calls herself a big cigar, but I kin smoke her!
(The people are laughing and talking for the most part and pay no attention. Effie is laughing and talking to those around her and does not hear the tirade. The eating is over and everyone is going behind the curtain. John and Emma put away their basket like the others, and sit glum. Voice of Master-of-ceremonies can be heard from beyond curtain announcing the pas-me-la contest. The contestants, mostly girls, take the floor. There is no music except the clapping of hands and the shouts of "Parse-me-lah" in time with the hand-clapping. At the end Master announces winner. Shadows seen on curtain.)
Master. Mathilda Clarke is winner—if she will step forward she will receive a beautiful wook fascinator. (The girl goes up and receives it with great hand-clapping and good humor.) And now since the roosters is crowin' foah midnight, an' most of us got to git up an' go to work tomorrow, The Great Cake Walk will begin. Ah wants de floor cleared, cause de representatives of de several cities will be announced an' we wants em to take de floor as their names is called. Den we wants 'em to do a gran' promenade roun' de hall. An' they will then commence to walk fuh de biggest cake ever baked in dis state. Ten dozen eggs—ten pounds of flour—ten pounds of butter, and so on and so forth. Now then—(he strikes a pose) for St. Augustine—
Miss Lucy Taylor, Mr. Ned Coles.
(They step out amid applause and stand before stage.)
For Daytona—
Miss Janie Bradley, Enoch Nixon
(Same business.)
For Ocala—
Miss Docia Boger, Mr. Oscar Clarke
(Same business.)
For Palatka—
Miss Maggie Lemmons, Mr. Senator Lewis
(Same business)
And for Jacksonville the most popular "walkers" in de state—
Miss Emmaline Beazeby, Mr. John Turner.
(Tremendous applause. John rises and offers his arm grandiloquently to Emma.)
Emma (pleadingly, and clutching his coat). John let's we all don't go in there with all them. Let's we all go on home.
John (amazed). Why, Emma?
Emma. Cause, cause all them girls is going to pulling and hauling on you, and—
John (impatiently). Shucks! Come on. Don't you hear the people clapping for us and calling our names? Come on!
(He tries to pull her up—she tries to drag him back.)
Come on, Emma! Taint no sense in your acting like this. The band is playing for us. Hear 'em? (He moves feet in a dance step.)
Emma. Naw, Jobn, Ah'm skeered. I loves you—I—
(He tries to break away from her. She is holding on fiercely.)
John. I got to go! I been practising almost a year—I—we done come all the way down here. I can walk the cake, Emma—we got to—I got to go in! (He looks into her face and sees her tremendous fear.) What you skeered about?
Emma (hopefully). You won't go it—You'll come on go home with me all by ourselves. Come on John. I can't, I just can't go in there and see all them girls—Effie hanging after you—.
John. I got to go in—(he removes her hand from his coat)—whether you come with me or not.
Emma. Oh—them yaller wenches! How I hate 'em! They gets everything they wants—.
Voice Inside. We are waiting for the couple from Jacksonville—Jacksonville! Where is the couple from—.
(Wesley parts the curtain and looks out.)
Wesley. Here they is out here spooning! You all can't even hear your names called. Come on John and Emma.
John. Coming. (He dashes inside. Wesley stands looking at Emma in surprise.)
Wesley. What's the matter, Emma? You and John spatting again? (He goes back inside.)
Emma (calmly bitter). He went and left me. If we is spatting we done had our last one. (She stands and clenches her fists.) Ah, mah God! He's in there with her—Oh, them half whites, they gets everything, they gets everything everybody else wants! The men, the jobs—everything! The whole world is got a sign on it. Wanted: Light colored. Us blacks was made for cobble stones. (She muffles a cry and sinks limp upon the seat.)
Voice Inside. Miss Effie Jones will walk for Jacksonville with Mr. John Turner in place of Miss Emmaline Beazeley.
Scene III—Dance Hall
Emma springs to her feet and flings the curtains wide open. She stands staring at the gay scene for a moment defiantly then creeps over to a seat along the wall and shrinks into the Spanish Moss, motionless.
Dance hall decorated with palmetto leaves and Spanish Moss—a flag or two. Orchestra consists of guitar, mandolin, banjo, accordian, church organ and drum.
Master (on platform). Couples take yo' places! 'When de music starts, gentlemen parade yo' ladies once round de hall, den de walk begins. (The music begins. Four men come out from behind the platform bearing a huge chocolate cake. The couples are "prancing" in their tracks. The men lead off the procession with the cake—the contestants make a grand slam around the hall.)
Master. Couples to de floor! Stan' back, ladies an' gentlemen—give 'em plenty room.
(Music changes to "Way Down in Georgia." Orchestra sings. Effie takes the arm that John offers her and they parade to the other end of the hall. She takes her place. John goes back upstage to the platform, takes off his silk hat in a graceful sweep as he bows deeply to Effie. She lifts her skirts and curtsies to the floor. Both smile broadly. They advance toward each other, meet midway, then, arm in arm, begin to "strut." John falters as he faces her, but recovers promptly and is perfection in his style. (Seven to nine minutes to curtain.) Fervor of spectators grows until all are taking part in some way—either hand-clapping or singing the words. At curtain they have reached frenzy.)
Quick Curtain
(It stays down a few seconds to indicate ending of contest and goes up again on John and Effie being declared winners by Judges.)
Master (on platform, with John and Effie on the floor before him). By unanimous decision de cake goes to de couple from Jacksonville! (Great enthusiasm. The cake is set down in the center of the floor and the winning couple parade around it arm in arm. John and Effie circle the cake happily and triumphantly. The other contestants, and then the entire assembly fall in behind and circle the cake, singing and clapping. The festivities continue. The Jacksonville quartet step upon the platform and sing a verse and chorus of "Daisies won't tell." Cries of "Hurrah for Jacksonville! Glory for the big town," "Hurrah for Big Jack.")
A Man (seeing Emma). You're from Jacksonville, aint you? (He whirls her around and around.) Aint you happy? Whoopee! (He releases her and she drops upon a seat. She buries her face in the moss.)
(Quartet begins on chorus again. People are departing, laughing, humming, with quartet cheering. John, the cake, and Effie being borne away in triumph.)
Scene IV
Time—present. The interior of a one-room shack in an alley. There is a small window in the rear wall upstage left. There is an enlarged crayon drawing of a man and woman—man sitting cross-legged, a woman standing with her hand on his shoulder. A center table, red cover, a low, cheap rocker, two straight chairs, a small kitchen stove at left with a wood-box beside it, a water-bucket on a stand close by. A hand towel and a wash basin. A shelf of dishes above this. There is an ordinary oil lamp on the center table but it is not lighted when the curtain goes up. Some light enters through the window and falls on the woman seated in the low rocker. The door is center right. A cheap bed is against the upstage wall. Someone is on the bed but is lying so that the back is toward the audience.
Action—As the curtain rises, the woman is seen rocking to and fro in the low rocker. A dead silence except for the sound of the rocker and an occasional groan from the bed. Once a faint voice says "water" and the woman in the rocker arises and carries the tin dipper to the bed.
Woman. No mo' right away—Doctor says not too much. (Returns dipper to pail—Pause.) You got right much fever—I better go git the doctor agin.
(There comes a knocking at the door and she stands still for a moment, listening. It comes again and she goes to door but does not open it.)
Woman. Who's that?
Voice Outside. Does Emma Beasely live here?
Emma. Yeah—(pause)—who is it?
Voice. It's me—John Turner.
Emma (puts hands eagerly on the fastening). John? did you say John Turner?
Voice. Yes, Emma, it's me.
(The door is opened and the man steps inside.)
Emma. John! Your hand (she feels for it and touches it). John flesh and blood.
John (laughing awkwardly). It's me alright, old girl. Just as bright as a basket of chips. Make a light quick so I can see how you look. I'm crazy to see you. Twenty years is a long time to wait, Emma.
Emma (nervously). Oh, let's we all just sit in the dark awhile. (Apologetically.) I wasn't expecting nobody and my house aint picked up. Sit down. (She draws up the chair. She sits in rocker.)
John. Just to think! Emma! Me and Emma sitting down side by each. Know how I found you?
Emma (dully). Naw. How?
John (brightly). Soons I got in town I hunted up Wesley and he told me how to find you. That's who I come to see, you!
Emma. Where you been all these years, up North somewheres? Nobody round here could find out where you got to.
John. Yes, up North. Philadelphia.
Emma. Married yet?
John. Oh yes, seventeen years ago. But my wife is dead now and so I came as soon as it was decent to find you. I wants to marry you. I couldn't die happy if I didn't. Couldn't get over you—couldn't forget. Forget me, Emma?
Emma. Naw, John. How could I?
John (leans over impulsively to catch her hand). Oh, Emma, I love you so much. Strike a light honey so I can see you—see if you changed much. You was such a handsome girl!
Emma. We don't exactly need no light, do we, John, tuh jus' set an' talk?
John. Yes, we do, Honey. Ah wanna see you. Gwan, make a light.
(There is a silence.)
Emma. Bet you' wife wuz some high-yaller dickty-doo.
John. Naw she wasn't neither. She was jus' as much like you as Ah could get her. Make a light an' Ah'll show you her pictcher. Shucks, ah gotta look at mah old sweetheart. (He strikes a match and holds it up between their faces and they look intently at each other over it until it burns out.) You aint changed none atall, Emma, jus' as pretty as a speckled pup yet.
Emma (lighter). Go long, John! (Short pause) 'member how you useter bring me magnolias?
John. Do I? Gee, you was sweet! 'Member how Ah useter pull mah necktie loose so you could tie it back for me? Emma, Ah can't see to mah soul how we lived all this time, way from one another. 'Member how you useter make out mah ears had done run down and you useter screw 'em up agin for me? (They laugh.)
Emma. Yeah, Ah useter think you wuz gointer be mah husban' then—but you let dat ole—.
John. Ah aint gonna let you alibi on me lak dat. Light dat lamp! You cain't lock me in de eye and say no such. (He strikes another match and lights the lamp.) Course, Ah don't wanta look too bossy, but Ah b'lieve you got to marry me tuh git rid of me. That is, if you aint married.
Emma. Naw, Ah aint. (She turns the lamp down.)
John (looking about the room). Not so good, Emma. But wait till you see dat little place in Philly! Got a little "Rolls-Rough," too—gointer teach you to drive it, too.
Emma. Ah been havin' a hard time, John, an' Ah lost you—oh, aint nothin' been right for me! Ah aint never been happy.
(John takes both of her hands in his.)
John. You gointer be happy now, Emma. Cause Ah'm gointer make you. Gee Whiz! Ah aint but forty-two and you aint forty yet—we got plenty time. (There is a groan from the bed.) Gee, what's that?
Emma (ill at ease). Thass mah chile. She's sick. Reckon Ah bettah see 'bout her.
John. You got a chile? Gee, that great! Ah always wanted one. but didn't have no luck. Now we kin start off with a family. Girl or boy?
Emma (slowly). A girl. Comin' tuh see me agin soon, John?
John. Comin' agin? Ah aint gone yet! We aint talked, you aint kissed me an' nothin', and you aint showed me our girl. (Another groan, more prolonged.) She must be pretty sick—let's see. (He turns in his chair and Emma rushes over to the bed and covers the girl securely, tucking her long hair under the covers, too—before he arises. He goes over to the bed and looks down into her face. She is mulatto. Turns to Emma teasingly.) Talkin' 'bout me liking high-yallers—yo husband musta been pretty near white.
Emma (slowly). Ah, never wuz married, John.
John. It's alright, Emma. (Kisses her warmly.) Everything is going to be O.K. (Turning back to the bed.) Our child looks pretty sick, but she's pretty. (Feels her forehead and cheek.) Think she oughter have a doctor.
Emma. Ah done had one. Course Ah cain't git no specialist an' nothin' lak dat. (She looks about the room and his gaze follows hers.) Ah aint got a whole lot lake you., Nobody don't git rich in no white-folks' kitchen, nor in de washtub. You know Ah aint no school-teacher an' nothin' lak dat.
(John puts his arm about her.)
John. It's all right, Emma. But our daughter is bad off—run out an' git a doctor—she needs one. Ah'd go if Ah knowed where to find one—you kin git one the quickest—hurry, Emma.
Emma (looks from John to her daughter and back again.) She'll be all right, Ah reckon, for a while. John, you love me—you really want me sho' nuff?
John. Sure Ah do—think Ah'd come all de way down here for nothin'? Ah wants to marry agin.
Emma. Soon, John?
John. Real soon.
Emma. Ah wuz jus' thinkin', mah folks is away now on a little trip—be home day after tomorrow —we could git married tomorrow.
John. Al right. Now run on after the doctor —we must look after our girl. Gee, she's got a full suit of hair! Glad you didn't let her chop it off. (Looks away from bed and sees Emma standing still.)
John. Emma, run on after the doctor, honey. (She goes to the bed and again tucks the long braids of hair in, which are again pouring over the side of the bed by the feverish tossing of the girl.) What's our daughter's name?
Emma. Lou Lillian, (She returns to the rocker uneasily and sits rocking jerkily. He returns to his seat and turns up the light.)
John. Gee, we're going to be happy—we gointer make up for all them twenty years (another groan). Emma, git up an' gwan git dat doctor. You done forgot Ah'm de boss uh dis family now—gwan, while Ah'm here to watch her whilst you're gone. Ah got to git back to mah stoppin'-place after a while.
Emma. You go git one, John.
John. Whilst Ah'm blunderin' round tryin' to find one, she'll be gettin' worse. She sounds pretty bad—(takes out his wallet and hands her a bill)—get a taxi if necessary. Hurry!
Emma (does not take the money, but tucks her arms and hair in again, and gives the girl a drink). Reckon Ah better go git a doctor. Don't want nothin' to happen to her. After you left, Ah useter have such a hurtin' in heah (touches bosom) till she come an' eased it some.
John. Here, take some money and get a good doctor. There must be some good colored ones around here now.
Emma (scornfully). I wouldn't let one of 'em tend my cat if I had one! But let's we don't start a fuss.
(John caresses her again. When he raises his head he notices the picture on the wall and crosses over to it with her—his arm still about her.)
John. Why, that's you and me!
Emma. Yes, I never could part with that. You coming tomorrow morning, John, and we're gointer get married, aint we? Then we can talk over everything.
John. Sure, but I aint gone yet. I don't see how come we can't make all our arrangements now.
(Groans from bed and feeble movement.)
Good lord, Emma, go get that doctor!
(Emma stares at the girl and the bed and seizes a hat from a nail on the wall. She prepares to go but looks from John to bed and back again. She fumbles about the table and lowers the lamp. Goes to door and opens it. John offers the wallet. She refuses it.)
Emma. Doctor right around the corner. Guess I'll leave the door open so she can get some air. She won't need nothing while I'm gone, John. (She crosses and tucks the girl in securely and rushes out, looking backward and pushing the door wide open as she exits. John sits in the chair beside the table. Looks about him—shakes his head. The girl on the bed groans, "water," "so hot." John looks about him excitedly. Gives her a drink. Feels her forehead. Takes a clean handkerchief from his pocket and wets it and places it upon her forehead. She raises her hand to the cool object. Enter Emma running. When she sees John at the bed she is full of fury. She rushes over and jerks his shoulder around. They face each other.)
Emma. I knowed it! (She strikes him.) A half white skin. (She rushes at him again. John staggers back and catches her hands.)
John. Emma!
Emma (struggles to free her hands). Let me go so I can kill you. Come sneaking in here like a pole cat!
John (slowly, after a long pause). So this is the woman I've been wearing over my heart like a rose for twenty years! She so despises her own skin that she can't believe any one else could love it!
(Emma writhes to free herself.)
John. Twenty years! Twenty years of adoration, of hunger, of worship! (On the verge of tears he crosses to door and exits quietly, closing the door after him.)
(Emma remains standing, looking dully about as if she is half asleep. There comes a knocking at the door. She rushes to open it. It is the doctor. White. She does not step aside so that he can enter.
Doctor. Well, shall I come in?
Emma (stepping aside and laughing a little). That's right, doctor, come in.
(Doctor crosses to bed with professional air. Looks at the girl, feels the pulse and draws up the sheet over the face. He turns to her.)
Doctor. Why didn't you come sooner. I told you to let me know of the least change in her condition.
Emma (flatly). I did come—I went for the doctor.
Doctor. Yes, but you waited. An hour more or less is mighty important sometimes. Why didn't you come?
Emma (passes hand over face). Couldn't see.
(Doctor looks at her curiously, then sympathetically takes out a small box of pills, and hands them to her.) Here, you're worn out. Take one of these every hour and try to get some sleep. (He departs.)
(She puts the pill-box on the table, takes up the low rocking chair and places it by the head of the bed. She seats herself and rocks monotonously and stares out of the door. A dry sob now and then. The wind from the open door blows out the lamp and she is seen by the little light from the window rocking in an even, monotonous gait, and sobbing.)