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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

The night’s perfect:

clear skies, new moon.
AUGUSTUS

Tonight? I knew it!

I’ll assemble my forces.
BENJAMIN Hold on. You’ll be coming with us.
AUGUSTUS But—
BENJAMIN

You told us what you wanted us to believe.

We’ve got orders to bring you to headquarters.

They’ll decide what’s to be done.
AUGUSTUS I can’t leave. My people need me!
BENJAMIN

This is death’s business, brother.

Even a nigger as famous as you

can’t be given the benefit of the doubt!

Your second-in-command—
AUGUSTUS Phebe?
BENJAMIN —will organize things here.

Takes AUGUSTUS by the arm.

Henry will deliver her orders.

We’ll wait in the wagon. Come on!

All exit; blackout. The chanting of the SLAVES grows louder, with snatches of spirituals in high descant, but the lyrics of the spirituals are volatile. The percussive, more African-based chants prevail, with key phrases like “Freedom, children, freedom!” emerging ever stronger through the next scene.

Scene 8

SCENE 8

The big house: AMALIA’s bedroom, LOUIS’s study and the hallway.

Evening: LOUIS stands at the open window of his study, looking through the telescope, alternately at the night sky and down over the plantation grounds.

AMALIA sits on the window seat in her bedroom. PHEBE enters.

PHEBE You wanted me, Ma’am?
AMALIA

Good evening, Phebe!

I was sitting at the window,

catching the last rays of sunlight,

when I happened to see you

darting from group to group,

talking to this slave and that,

and I said to myself: “Perhaps

Phebe would like to talk to me, too.”
PHEBE (On her guard.)

I’m pleased to talk conversation

whenever you like, Miss Amalia.
AMALIA (Slightly sarcastic.)

It seems you’re mighty pleased

with other people’s conversations

these days.
PHEBE I don’t follow your meaning, Ma’am.
AMALIA

Oh, really? I notice

you and Augustus have no problem

following each other’s meaning.
PHEBE

Augustus ain’t nothing

but a friend, Ma’am.

I don’t recollect talking to him

any more than anyone else.

Laughs nervously.

Me and my big mouth always be

yakking at somebody or another.
AMALIA

Don’t talk yourself

into trouble, Phebe.
PHEBE

Beg pardon, Ma’am.

I didn’t mean nothing by it.
AMALIA

Everyone can see

you’re making a fool of yourself

over him! Have you spoken

to Augustus today?
PHEBE I can’t rightly say, Ma’am.

At a warning look from AMALIA.