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Back The Darker Face of the Earth Save as PDF
Chapters (27)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Half-Title Page
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright Page
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Dedication
  7. Cast
  8. Prologue
  9. Act One
  10. Scene 2
  11. Scene 3
  12. Scene 4
  13. Scene 5
  14. Scene 6
  15. Scene 7
  16. Scene 8
  17. Act Two
  18. Scene 2
  19. Scene 3
  20. Scene 4
  21. Scene 5
  22. Scene 6
  23. Scene 7
  24. Scene 8
  25. An Interview with Rita Dove
  26. Biographical Note
  27. Back Cover
You must be dangerous.
AUGUSTUS

I was sold in chains and spent my first night

in the barn. The overseer

didn’t have enough sense to take them off

until Amalia gave the order—
HECTOR

Amalia? Amalia!

You are plotting some evil.
AUGUSTUS

You’ve got swamp fever, old man.

I plan no evil.
HECTOR

I heard you!

Men come and go in wagons.

They whisper and shake hands.

They come out at night

when the innocent sleep.
AUGUSTUS These men—what do they look like?
HECTOR They have the devil’s eye.
AUGUSTUS Are they black men, or white?
HECTOR You are one of them!
AUGUSTUS

If they are black, black like

me and you, how can they be evil?
HECTOR (Vehemently.)

No, no—the world’s not right, don’t you see?

I took the curse as far away as I could.
AUGUSTUS There is no curse!
HECTOR (Draping moss and vines over the tree trunk to make a “throne”.)

Ah, but the little mother’s gone.

And I came here where evil

bubbles out of the ground.

Once I didn’t watch out;

I got lost in the smell of a rose

and snap!—the snake bit down.

Little mother was mother no more.
AUGUSTUS I’m no snake, Hector.
HECTOR

Evil isn’t the snake, little man.

Evil is what grows the snake.

Gazing into the distance.

Such a cool sweet look . . .

Cuts a piercing glance at AUGUSTUS, who recognizes his own words and is on guard—though against what, he’s not sure.

AUGUSTUS You are crazy.
HECTOR

Once we had a garden to hide in,

but we were children.

Taking his seat on the throne; with a full sweep of his arm.

This is my home now.

I am king here.

Regarding him suspiciously.

Every man has his place.
AUGUSTUS

And you are fortunate to have found yours.

They’ve left you in peace.

But what of your brothers and sisters?

They cry out in their bondage.

They have no place in this world

to lay their heads.
HECTOR (In a low growl.)

You are planning a great evil.

You come out at night

when the innocent sleep—

Raising his voice.

but I won’t let you harm her!
AUGUSTUS Shh! Someone might hear.
HECTOR I won’t let you harm her!

Screaming.

Danger! Wake up, children!

The SLAVES wake up and stumble out of their cabins, in a bewildered pantomime. The CONSPIRATORS also appear and consult each other.

AUGUSTUS (Grabbing HECTOR to silence him.)

Quiet! Do you want to bring

the whole pack down on us?
HECTOR (Hits AUGUSTUS in the chest; crazed.)

Wake up! Wake up!

Mother, Father!

They’re coming for us!

HECTOR tries to run out of the swamp. AUGUSTUS tackles him from behind.

AUGUSTUS

Crazy fool! You’ll spoil everything!

I’ve . . . come . . . to . . . save you!

A fierce struggle ensues.