Chapters (27)
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That is—I talked to a lot of people and he was amongst them, but we didn’t say more than a how-de-do. |
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| AMALIA | Tell Augustus I want to see him. |
| PHEBE | (Thrown into panic.) |
| I don’t know—I mean— | |
| AMALIA | What’s the matter, Phebe? |
| PHEBE |
Nothing, Ma’am. It might take a while, is all. |
| AMALIA | (Sarcastic.) |
| And why is that? | |
| PHEBE |
It’s just—well, Augustus been keeping to himself lately. I seen him going off in the direction of the swamp; he’s got some crazy idea about fixing up Hector’s shack. |
| AMALIA | (Haunted.) |
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Oh. When he returns, send him up. |
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| PHEBE | Yes, Ma’am. |
PHEBE exits. In the hallway she runs into AUGUSTUS. He is very agitated.
| PHEBE | (Whispering.) |
| You! Here? | |
| AUGUSTUS | Yes. They sent me back. |
| PHEBE |
I thought for sure they was going to do something awful to you. |
| AUGUSTUS |
The sun travels its appointed track, a knot of fire, day in day out— what could be more awful? |
| PHEBE |
Augustus, what is it? Can I help? |
| AUGUSTUS | This job I do alone. |
| PHEBE |
But surely you can take a minute to go in there and smooth that she-hawk’s feathers down so’s the rest of us can— |
AMALIA steps out and peers into the dim hall. AUGUSTUS shrinks into the shadows.
| AMALIA | Is that you, Phebe? |
| PHEBE | Yes’m. I was just on my way downstairs. |
| AMALIA | I heard voices. |
| PHEBE |
That was me, Ma’am. I twisted my foot in the dark— guess I was talking to it. |
Laughs nervously.
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My mama used to say it helps to talk the hurt out. |
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| AMALIA |
Well, do your talking elsewhere. Go on! |
PHEBE hesitates, then exits. AMALIA stands looking into the darkness for a moment, then goes back into her room. AUGUSTUS steps out of hiding, holding a knife. The CONSPIRATORS can be heard in the background.
| LEADER | Prove you haven’t betrayed the cause! |
| BENJAMIN | Kill them both— |
| HENRY |
—your mistress and her foolish husband. |
| AUGUSTUS | That’s fate for you, Amalia. |
Looks at the knife.
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That white throat, bared for kisses . . . one quick pass, and it will flow redder than a thousand roses. |
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Everything was so simple before! Hate and be hated. But this—love or freedom— is the devil’s choice. |
Steeling himself, he heads for LOUIS’s room. Lights up on LOUIS, who is sitting with his right hand tucked nervously in the lap of his dressing gown. His back is to AUGUSTUS, who enters stealthily.
| LOUIS | (Startling AUGUSTUS, who stops in his tracks.) |
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No-one has come through that door for years. You’re the new one, aren’t you? |
Unseen by AUGUSTUS, he pulls a pistol out of his lap.
| A wild nigger, I hear. Amalia’s latest indulgence. | |
| AUGUSTUS |
So this is the great white master, trembling in his dressing gown! |
| LOUIS | Beware of the Moon in the house of Mars! |
Stands up and turns, hiding the pistol as he and AUGUSTUS face off.