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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
PHEBE Oh, Augustus . . .
AUGUSTUS (Lays AMALIA’s body down, gently.)

I had the sun and the moon

once. And the stars

with their cool gaze.

Now it’s dark.
PHEBE It’s alright. You’ll be alright now.
AUGUSTUS (Staring as if trying to make out something in the distance.)

Who’s there? How she stares,

like a cat at midnight!
PHEBE Nobody’s there, Augustus.
AUGUSTUS Don’t you see her?

PHEBE shakes her head, terrified.

Look, she’s hidden behind a tree.
PHEBE Oh, Augus—
AUGUSTUS

Shh! You’ll frighten her. There’s another one—

he’s been flogged and pickled in brine.

That skinny boy ate dirt: that’s why he staggers.

So many of them, limping, with brands

on their cheeks! Oh, I can’t bear it!
PHEBE Come along, now.
AUGUSTUS (Calling out to the “ghosts”.)
I came to save you!

The SLAVES burst in, brandishing bayonets and torches.

BENJAMIN He did it.
SLAVES Selah! We’re free!

The SLAVES lift AUGUSTUS onto their shoulders. The SLAVE WOMAN/NARRATOR stands at the door, holding a torch, taking in the scene.

SLAVES Freedom, freedom, freedom . . .

The “Freedom!” chant grows louder and more persistent as the SLAVES parade out of the room, AUGUSTUS on their shoulders; PHEBE follows them, sobbing. SCYLLA takes the torch from the SLAVE WOMAN/NARRATOR and sets fire to the window’s billowing curtains as she slowly straightens up to her full height.

Blackout.

The End.

An Interview with Rita Dove

AN INTERVIEW WITH RITA DOVE

Conducted by Robert McDowell, then Publisher of Story Line Press,

April 2000

Robert McDowell:

What are the differences between writing poetry and writing for the stage?

Rita Dove: