Chapters (27)
| PHEBE | Any news? |
| AUGUSTUS |
I expect another signal any day now. Then I’ll know more. |
| PHEBE |
What are they waiting for? You reckon something’s gone wrong— |
| AUGUSTUS | (Calming her.) |
|
Shh. They have their reasons. Patience. |
PHEBE catches him looking at the sky.
| PHEBE | (With a mixture of jealousy and trepidation.) |
|
You better get on up there— sun’s almost touching. |
PHEBE scoots inside the cotton house. AUGUSTUS studies the horizon, his expression inexplicable, then exits as JONES enters from the fields, urging along the next group bearing cotton. The SLAVES are sweaty and tired. JONES looks after AUGUSTUS; it’s clear he’s been told not to interfere.
| JONES |
Keep it moving! Don’t be looking at the sun; you got a whole long while before your day is over! |
JONES exits. The scene opens to the inside of the cotton house; SCIPIO dumps the sacks of cotton onto the floor while the other SLAVES tramp it down. The dull thud of stomping feet punctuates the dialogue; changes in pace and rhythm signal changes in mood and tension. On his way for the next sack of cotton, SCIPIO looks out the one small window.
| SCIPIO | There he goes. |
| ALEXANDER | Every evening, same time. |
| SCYLLA | It’s the devil’s work afoot, for sure. |
| SCIPIO | It is peculiar! I wonder— |
| PHEBE | It ain’t your task to wonder. |
| SCIPIO |
What’s the matter with you, gal? Most times you’re the one speculating about other folks’ doings. Maybe you’re sweet on him. |
General laughter.
| PHEBE |
If you ain’t finding fault with someone, you all laughing at them! We all been called up to the house one time or another. Ain’t nothing special in that. |
| SCYLLA |
For weeks on end? As soon as the sun eases into the sycamores, there ain’t a hair of his to be seen till daylight. |
Significant pause.