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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

With a significant look to the window.

this one got her daddy in her.
ALEXANDER

Nothing but trouble, I tell you.

Nothing but trouble.

Lights up on AMALIA’s bedroom. AMALIA JENNINGS LAFARGE lies in a canopy bed, a thickly swaddled babe in her arms. She is an attractive white woman, close to 20 years old, who exhibits more intelligence and backbone than is generally credited to a Southern belle. The DOCTOR, an older whiskered gentleman, is pacing the floor. AMALIA, though exhausted, appears amused.

AMALIA Well, Doctor, isn’t he beautiful?
DOCTOR

This is serious, Amalia!

If the niggers get wind of this—

AMALIA begins humming a lullaby to the baby.

AMALIA Don’t get melodramatic, Doctor;

you’ll frighten my son. See?

Baby raises a cry; AMALIA continues to hum while the DOCTOR keeps pacing. Among the SLAVES, SCYLLA stands up, clutching her stomach.

SCYLLA Oh! Oh!
OTHERS What is it, Scylla? What is it?
SCYLLA It’s out in the world.

The SLAVES look at her in fear.

ALEXANDER Lord have mercy.

The SLAVES gather around SCYLLA as she tries to straighten up but cannot. HECTOR’s gaze is still fixed on the window. AMALIA’s husband rushes into the bedroom. LOUIS LAFARGE is a handsome man in his twenties. The DOCTOR holds him back.

LOUIS Doctor—
DOCTOR Everything’s fine. Just go on back outside.
LOUIS Can’t a man see his own child?

Tears himself free and rushes over to the bed.

AMALIA What, Louis—struck dumb?
LOUIS My God!
AMALIA Isn’t he a fine strapping boy?
DOCTOR This is unnatural.
LOUIS

Who did this to you?

I’ll have him whipped to a pulp—
AMALIA (Hissing.)

So it’s alright for you

to stroll out by the cabins

any fine night you please? Ha—

the Big White Hunter with his scrawny whip!
LOUIS That tears it!
DOCTOR Quiet! They might hear.
LOUIS I’ll kill her!

LOUIS lunges at AMALIA; the DOCTOR restrains him.

DOCTOR Hold it, sir! Calm yourself!
AMALIA (To the DOCTOR.)

Daddy tried to keep me from

marrying him—but I was in love

with riding boots and the smell

of shaving cream and bourbon.

I was in love with a cavalryman

and nothing could stop me,

not even Daddy!

To LOUIS, who is being forced into an armchair by the DOCTOR.

But not even Daddy

suspected where you would seek

your satisfaction.

It was your right

to pull on those riding boots

and stalk little slave girls.

God knows what you do to them

in the name of ownership.

Depleted from the bravado she has mustered, AMALIA bends over the baby so they won’t see her exhaustion. LOUIS, still sitting in the armchair, grabs the DOCTOR by the shirt and pulls him down to his level.