BooksBarbecue
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
AMALIA

They even look like crowns.

Or suns—exploding suns!

How did you come by them?
AUGUSTUS (Abrupt.)
No more stories.
AMALIA Please?
AUGUSTUS

Another time.

There’s enough sorrow on earth tonight.

Embracing her.

And what’s the harm in borrowing

a little happiness?
AMALIA Take this, then—

Kisses him.

and this—

He pulls her down on the sofa as the strains of “Steal Away” grow ever more urgent. AUGUSTUS appears not to hear. He and AMALIA embrace passionately as the light dims.

Scene 6

SCENE 6

In the slave cemetery.

HECTOR’s funeral. HECTOR’s body is lying in state on a crude platform, covered with a rough blanket. The SLAVES march around the bier as they sing. After a little while JONES enters and stands uncertainly in the background; AMALIA watches from her bedroom window.

LOUIS sits at his window but has turned his back. He stares into nothingness, brandy glass in hand.

SLAVES

Oh Deat’ him is a little man,

And him goes from do’ to do’,

Him kill some souls and him cripple up,

And him lef’ some souls to pray.

Do Lord, remember me,

Do Lord, remember me.

I cry to the Lord as de year roll aroun’,

Lord, remember me.
ALEXANDER

No children, and his kinfolk

scattered around this world.
PHEBE We were all his friends, Alexander.
ALEXANDER

But his youngest child’s

got to pass over and under!

Who’s going to do it?
PHEBE

Every child on this plantation

was like his child, Alexander.

Don’t you worry.
ALEXANDER (Breaking down.)

To die like that, swoll up

and burst open like a—
PHEBE He’s at rest now. He don’t feel it.

The SLAVES stop marching to prepare for the ritual of the “passing.” In this rite, the youngest child of the deceased is passed under and over the coffin to signify the continuity of life.

SLAVES

My fader’s done wid de trouble o’ de world,

Wid de trouble o’ de world,

Wid de trouble o’ de world,

My fader’s done wid de trouble o’ de world,

Outshine de sun.

AUGUSTUS appears and he stands at a distance; PHEBE goes over to him.

ALEXANDER

Here he come, stopping by

when he’s good and ready.

Too busy to pay proper respect to the dead.
SCIPIO Each soul grieves in its own way.
PHEBE Where were you?
AUGUSTUS I came as soon as I heard—
PHEBE (Secretive.)
Not here, man. There.

Gestures toward the swamp.

They were calling for you last night.

Didn’t you hear that “Steal Away?”

They sang till I thought the dead

would rise out of their graves and follow!

I was crazy with worry.

Finally I went and told them

you couldn’t get away.

AUGUSTUS glances up at the house, locks gazes with AMALIA.