Indelible Sub Copy

8/13/2019 Indelible Sub Copy

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Indelible

By Michael Oatman

Settings:

In a jail cell in southern Ohio in the 1950s

In the back room of a used clothing store in 1902.

rail yard

rooming house

Character List:

!alter "a#idson $$$ self$educated entre%reneur &ho o&ns a used clothing store.

"oleda !atkins $$$ single mother &ho &orks in !alter "a#idson's used clothing store.

"elano(Old Man $$$ mysterious agent from the south.

)estus !atkins $$$ *&el#e year$old boy &ho &orks for !alter "a#idson. +e is the son of"oleda !atkins.

,urtis and -ratt $$$ *&o young ,i#il ights demonstrators &ho are in jail for attem%tingto integrate a lunch counter.

)urman $$$ +e is a henchman &ho is &orks as muscle for the "elano character.

/Bama and Babo $$$ ailroad men &ho hel% smuggle the ne&s%a%er into other %arts of thecountry. *hey also deli#ers ne&s from other %laces.

!illiam ochester III $$$ ,olored man from the north &ho has come to to&n to meet &ith!alter "a#idson.

-rison uard $$$ young racist %rison guard

,* O(3, O

(The spotlight reveals several African American males in a cell. Amongst these

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black men is one old white man in his 70s. In the foreground are two men, theold man and one of the younger black men in the cell. They are both on opposingbenches. The young man is laying down with his feet up on the bench. The olderman is sitting on an opposite bench facing the audience.

Delano

4!e is talking directly to the audience. "hile you can see the other characters, the main

section of the spotlight is on him. It is a terrible thing to be on the &rong side of history.

6ord7 kno&s I could &rite a book on the subject. *he list of my failings as a human being

are mile &ide and canyon dee%. *hey seem like fiction to me. s if I &asn't the %erson

&ho did all of those things. But I am. I did do those things. I'm not a religious man7 but

I kno& that some day there &ill be an accounting for all of my sins. *here &ill come a

reckoning. 4The light becomes brighter and shines on the both men on the benches. I

belong in this cell for many7 many7 many reason. +o& ironic that I &ould finally find

myself here for doing the right thing. 4#eat I al&ays kne& that od had a sense of

humor.

Pratt

!hat in the hell you doin' in jail cell &ith us trouble making7 niggas8

Delano

3ame as you I su%%ose.

Pratto7 seriously7 &hat in the &orld you doing mied u% in here &ith %ack of coloreds8

Curtis

+e %robably trying to figure out &hat egras look like u% close7 you kno& like his o&n

%ri#ate :oo.

Delano

I told you already &hy I'm in here7 son.

Pratt

3ame as me. 3o you &ere there to integrate that lunch counter8 ;ou8

Delano

I got arrested didn't I8 !hat8 I can't fight for human rights7 is that it8 /,ause &hat7 I

got &hite skin8 I thought that &as the ty%e of closed mindedness you boys &ere fighting

against8

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Pratt

4All the black men in the background sit up and stare over at $elano in unison. The

young man gets up off of the bench and stands over. +ey7 old man I ain't nobodies boy.

Curtis

-ratt sit do&n. in't &e in enough trouble8 !hatchu gon do7 beat u% some old &hite

man8

Pratt

"on't care ho& old he is7 ,urtis.

Delano

I'm o#er


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*hat's &hat I thought. I &ant you to look at me7 then ans&er the >uestion yourself.

4%ause. !ell . . . m. I . . . a s%y I mean8

Pratt

a& . . . you ain't no s%y. I don't kno& &hat the hell you is7 but chu ain't no s%y.

Delano

;eah7 on most days I can't figure me out either. 4 The old man ambles up from his bench

and walks out to address the audience.

Delano

I sit back in my &icker chair on the %orch of my house and I &atch these young men

running around talkin' about freedom7 but these young boys don't kno& the history. *he

real struggle and sacrifice. *hey can't see that the ground they trai%sing o#er is soaked in

blood. 4%ause nd I should kno&7 I s%ilt my share of it. !ell . . . I guess I can't blame/em though7 &hen I &as a young man7 I could gi#e a fiddler's damn about history.

Pratt

+ey7 let us outta here you sonsabitches.

Delano

!hat &as I sayin'8

Curtis

3omething about history7 old timer.

Delano

;eah . . . yeah . . . history. 3o ha#e you heard of !alter "a#idson8 #er hear of the

%a%er that he use to %rint u%8 *he *imes . . . the egro *imes8 o8 "on't feel bad.

+ell7 I &ouldn't ha#e kno&n nothing about this egro *imes business if I &ouldn't#e

been there.

Curtis

I lo#e the old folks7 come on no&7 gram%s tell me a story. Old folks al&ays tell the best

stories.

Delano

!ell7 since you asked. *he story starts around the turn of the century7 19027 before you

boys &ere an itch in your daddy's %ants.

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,* O(3, *!O

("hen the lights come back up, a man is toiling around in what looks like aworkshop that has tools, barrels and other e&uipment hapha'ardly layingaround.

Walter)estus getcho tail in here and tote that bundle youngin'.

Festus

I'm comin'7 I'm comin'7 Mr. "a#idson. 4estus enters the stage carrying a large bundle

of papers.

Walter

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I s&ear you getting slo&er by the day.

Festus

I'm sorry7 Mr. "a#idson. In tryin' but it's hea#y.

Walter

o hea#ier than the burden our %eo%le carried o#er there in frica7 young s%ort. O#er

there ladies can carry dey body &eight on the to%s of dey head. I betch you didn't kno&

that did ya young7 buck8

Festus

o7 sir. But I bet I kno& something you don't tho Mistah "a#idson8

Walter

ot likely.

FestusI bet I do.

Walter

lright7 )estus let it out fo ya bust.

Festus

!e gots a #isitor in to&n . . . a colored man.

Walter

*hat hardly >ualify as ne&s7 &e got niggas filing in and out of to&n e#eryday off the rail

road. +ell7 that train flick off niggas like a dog flick off fleas.

Festus

*his ain't no regular colored tho . . . he real citified . . . he talk funny too7 like a &hite man

or something. +e took a room at the rooming house.

Walter

My rooming house8

Festus

;e%. +e a %eculiar yello& nigga7 Mr. !alter. My guess is he one of dem 3ilar ,ity

coloreds7 &ith his %olished shoes and all.

Walter

,ity colored7 huh8 Oh7 &ell7 I got too much on my mind to &orry about it. ,ome on

o#er here. 4"alter $avidson reaches into his pocket and pulls out a oversi'ed bill and

hands it to estus.

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Festus

But Mr. !alter7 you don't o&e me this much8

Walter

Boy7 take this money and get on from /round here. o get you a %ocket full of them

gumballs you like7 so that you can stay out of mine.

Festus

&7 Mr. !alter . . .

Walter

I see that jar getting lo&er you little %incher. o&7 git. o buy yo' mama some of that

%enny candy do&n at !hitman's &ith the etra. 4"alter $avidson opens the bundle of

papers with his knife. !e picks up the paper and feeds it into a circular machine on his

workshop desk.)estus

+ey. Mama. 4"oleda enters.

Doleda

+ey7 !alter7 &e just sold the last of dem &ork %ants7 &e gon need to ha#e Ms. ;ancy

make us a fe& more . . . they eating /em u% like hot cakes.

Walter

4!e begins to put away his papers and hides his machine. 6eda . . . dammit &oman7 you

need to knock fo you enter in the back room7 for ,hrist sake. +o&'s business u% front8

Doleda

I jus tole you7 &e done sold out of them &ork %ants and it ain't e#en 5 o'clock yet.

Walter

*hem ne& shirts /Bama toted in from 3ilar ,ity . . . &e sold any today8

Doleda

One of them railroad men bought one this morning. 4%ause !hat a dusty old railroad

man need &ith such a fancy shirt I'll ne#er kno&.

Walter

man &orks a hard job like that and he &ants to look nice on the &eekends is all. ,ome

here7 6eda 4The two walk over to a window in the back of the room and peer out. *ell me

&hat you see.

Doleda


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I don't kno& !alter7 a rail yard.

Walter

!ell7 yeah7 &hat else8

Doleda

bunch of old7 dirty railroad men going /bout their business8

Walter

+ey7 I started in dem same rail yards &hen I came u% here from *uscaloosa. in't

nothing &rong &ith the kind of &ork that get a man's hands dirty. !ithout those dirty

railroad men7 &ouldn't be no me$$$or &ouldn't be no job for you. *hat might be a

thought that crosses your mind the net time you narro& your eyes to look do&n on dem.

Doleda

I still think they look like o#er$stuffed %eacocks in them colorful shirts you sell.Walter

s long as they %eacocks &ho %ay7 that's fine &ith me.

Doleda

4%ause )estus must'#e been on the &ay to !hitman's the &ay he tore out of here.

Must'#e had some etra money burning a hole in his %ocket.

Walter

Must ha#e.

Doleda

"on't kno& &here )estus &ould get some etra money &ould you7 !alter8

Walter

!ell7 yeah I ga#e the boy a dollar.

Doleda

It &ouldn't be for toting in that brand ne& %ack of %a%er I seen him lugging round. Must

ha#e %icked it u% from the %ost office. 3ent from &here7 3ilar ,ity I &ould imagine8

4-ause 3o I guess that talk me and Minister Mc-herson had &ith you after church &ent

in one ear and out da other. in't a &hite man in to&n &ouldn't kill you dead if he kne&

&hat you &us u% to.

Walter

*hat's just od's &ay of sayin' that I'm doing the right thing.

Doleda

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od ain't in a mind to get nobody kilt.

Walter

*ell that to Isaac and his son. *ell that to those fools in 3odom and omorra. in't

ne#er kno&ed od to flinch /bout killin'. 6essen you read from another Bible den me.

It's right and &rong that offends the man u%stairs.

Doleda

!ho say the man u%stairs is a man at all8 from &hat I can tell od ain't %ig$headed

enough to be a man.

Walter

o& that is just some old egro nonsense. "em dare &omen league grou%s is &ar%ing

yo' brain. *he bible say . . .

Doleda"on't start in &ith me &ith that Bible talk . . . I just don't understand you that's all. ;ou

got cho o&n bidness7 selling used clothes by the bo7 you o&n this &hole block7 the

rooming house cross the street7 the mail$order store. ;ou o&n more then a egro could

e#er dream of. Making good money7 s%ecially for a colored man7 &hy &ould you risk that

all for &ords on a %age. I could li#e for a coon's age and ne#er understand you.

Walter

I &ould s'%ect you &ouldn't . . . understand I mean7 /cause it ain't nothing can be

e%lained by things as %uny and small as &ords. It's a feeling 6eda. burning7 like . . . a

sting dee% in a man's belly that say you got to do &hat you got to do. It is 19 hundred

and 2. *he century done turned7 it's time &e turned &ith it. +o& many more lynching

before &e stand u% and say no more. !e ain't sla#es no more7 there are rights o&ed to

us. My daddy didn't ha#e a choice but to &ear chains7 but I do. black man should be

able to &alk &ith %ride. *hem chains been lifted from us. o& it's time to stand u% and

be heard. nd read.

Doleda

*oo much %ride is a sin !alter . . .

Walter

. . . so is lynching. 4"alter walks over to the bundle of papers hidden underneath a pail.

!e picks up one of the papers and reads from it. O 6;,+" I

I,C3BD. . . . *ell me that this is &hat od intended8 6ook &hat they did to this

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boy7 and then tell me I got a choice in &hat od has sent me to do. I got these %ictures

from one of dem dirty railroad men that trouble you so. *hey &ere selling /em in a

general store do&n dare for kee%sakes. *hese %ictures cost me t&o of them %eacock

shirts.

Doleda

;ou a damn fool. nd I should kno& . . . my Eacob &as foolish jus' like you. nd I'm

the one that found him in that field7 all tore u% and such. I'm the one left behind to raise

his son alone. )estus &as barely out of his dia%ers &hen they killed Eacob. I kno& ho&

the story ends7 !alter . . . you %rideful son of a de#il you.

Walter

*hat's a sight a &oman shouldn't e#er ha#e to see7 lord hel% me. But my &ork is not of

this %lace7 or time. I been sent by od to do this7 6eda. ;ou can't ask me to ignore him .. . and yes7 it is a him. I been sent. 3ent by od I s&ear.

Doleda

3ent to die like a fool I s'%ose.

Walter

4"alter $avidson walks over to $oleda "atkins and grabs her around the shoulders.

;ou &orry too much. 6ook at this %retty face of mine. ;ou see me &orrying8

Doleda

o7 I don't . . . that's &hat &orries me most of all. 4The scene goes black.

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,* O(3, *+

()#ama and #abo are sitting on the bench at the rail yard and they are eatingtheir lunch. The two men are engaged in a highly energetic conversation.

Bama

Cnocked that &hite boy on his ass. 4*macks his fist into his open palm. BamF Cnocked

/em out. o& &hy he &anna go and do it Babo8 !hy he do it8 4"alter enters the

scene.

Walter

!hat chu egroes ja& jackin' about8

Bama

in't you heard7 Mr. Cing of all the coloreds8

Walter

+eard &hat8 !hy did &ho. do &hat8

Bama

*he hea#y&eight cham%ion's little brother . . .

Walter

Eack Eefferies8

Babo

;eah7 for some reason his little brother Eim7 got it in his head that he &anted to fight a

colored.

Bama

o& &hy he &anna go do dat8 I mean damn7 he floating along7 &hu%%ing u% on other

&hite folk and den he gits in dat roomy skull of his to take on a nigga. *he boy damn near

killed in the fifth7 &hu%%ed his ass.

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Babo

*hey say the boy is a natural born killa. Eohnson I think his name is. 4!e opens the paper

and reads the te+t. ;eah7 Eohnson7 Eack Eohnson.

Bama

*he dark %rince.

Walter

+ere you go fellas. 4!e hands )#ama an envelope. )#ama promptly hands the envelope

over to #abo. %ick me u% a fe& more %arcels of %a%er and some &ork %ants from

llories. 4%ause ;ou mind if I take this8

Babo

+ere ya go. 4!e hands "alter the newspaper. ny shirts8

Waltera&7 &e okay on shirts for no&. Its a little somethin' in there for the both of ya. 4%ause

"on't go drinkin u% there in one of those 3ilar city gin mills and forget to get my %ants.

Babo

,ome on no&7 you kno& &e /bouts bidness.

Bama

;eah7 Monkey bidness. 4The two men laugh. "alter waves )#ama over and speaks to

him while #abo goes through the envelope full of money .

Babo

Oh7 &eeF ,ash on the barrel head.

Walter

!hen ya'll get back I ha#e a fe& ne& %arcels for ya'll to take back into 3ilar city.

Bama

e& %arcels7 huh8

Walter

;eah.

Bama

;ou kno& &e cut it close that last time.

Walter

I kno& it.

Bama

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!e gotta be careful7 !alter. *hings tightin' u% /round here.

Walter

I kno& it.

Bama

;ou &anna kno& /bout that Gigby boy.

Walter

*he found him all burnt u% and dum%ed on the railroad tracks7 so maybe some of the fellas

that &ork the 3ilar city yard might ha#e a notion &hat ha%%ened.

Bama

I'll see to it. I'll %ick /em u% &hen I return tonight. I'll be back early7 I gotta &ork the

yard here tomorro& morning. I'll be in /ound eight. Babo gon stay u% a little longer in

3ilar city to #isit his sister7 I'll ha#e him come back on the 11H10 tonight. I'll hand /emo#er and he'll dro% /em off.

Walter

Make sure he gi#es /em to the right %eo%le7 I &ant to make sure that they get out there.

nd yeah7

Bama

o7 %roblem.

Walter

I don't need to tell you to be discreet.

Bama

"i$ &hat8 ;ou and dem t&enty$fi#e cent &ords.

Walter

Eust don't bring too much attention.

Bama

o on no&7 you kno& me %a%%a bear7 smooth as butter in a skillet.

Walter

nd . . .

Bama

. . . nd I kno&7 &rite do&n the facts for you. *he boys name7 age7 family7 and sneak

a&ay and &rite do&n &hat %eo%le say ho& dey said it. I kno&. in't eactly ne& at this

old boy.

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Walter

nd of course . . .

Bama

. . . nd of course if dare are any %ictures in the 3ilar city %a%ers7 cli% /em out and bring

/em chair. I kno&. 4"alter smiles and pats )#ama on the shoulder. Then he places a few

folded bills in )#amas front pocket. nd dat's jus' a little somethin' for my troubles.

4"e hear a train whistle. -n the bench #abo stands up and tucks the envelope in his

pocket.

Babo

Our coach has arri#ed.

Walter

Be careful and be safe.Bama

Is a nigga e#er safe in merica8 4#abo and )#ama e+it the stage. "alter turns and e+its

the other way. The scene goes black.

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,* O(3, )OD

(The scene opens and $oleda is sitting on the floor and she is in the midst ofpiles of clothes. *he is sorting through the clothes and separating them intosmaller piles. "alters feet are kicked up on his desk and he is reading anewspaper.

Walter

,an you belie#e they kickin' u% such a fuss8

Doleda

!hat8

Walter

I said can you belie#e they kickin' u% such a fuss about Booker *8

Doleda

!alter7 &hat in the hell are talkin' /bout8

Walter

Booker *. *he other day he trai%sed himself right u% to the !hite +ouse to see old

oose#elt and him and *eddy had dem sel#es some dinner.

Doleda

"inner8

Walter

;es7 dinner7 the first egro to e#er do so. nd the &hite folks u% dere don /bout lost deymind about it.

Doleda

;ou kno& &hite folks they don't like ,oloreds at dinner unless dey got a tray in dey

hands. 4%ause o& if you finished &ith the ne&s of the day you &anna get back to &ork

Mr. "a#idson8

Walter

I mean damn7 its just a meal7 can't a egro just ha#e a meal and not ha#e it turn into a

international incident8

Doleda

!alterF *hese clothes ain't gon check dey self in.

Walter

4"alter closes the newspaper and sits it down. It just cha%s my ass is all.

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Doleda

;o' ass git cha%%ed so much it's a &onder you got any left. 4 "alter pulls out his ledger

and opens it up.

Walter

!here did &e get this clothes from8

Doleda

Mr. 3tee%leson7 o#er at the &ork house. +e had some etra &ork clothes. 3ome of /em

in %retty good sha%e too. 3o far I count se#en thirteen shirts7 dat are ready to sell7 t&o

that could be ready &ith some mending and the rest &e can toss.

Walter

ice. +o& much did you gi#e him for those boes8

Doledaot a %enny. I ga#e him one of those nice blue dress shirts and a %air of dem city slacks.

nd he jus' ga#e me the boes.

Walter

*hat's all8

Doleda

"at's it.

Walter

;ou turning into >uite the business &oman. I &onder &hat 3tee%leson gon do &it' a ne&

suit8

Doleda

)or the dance !alter. #erybody in to&n in gettin' clean for it.

Walter

"ance8

Doleda

;eah7 !alter dance. ;ou kno& %eo%le getting together7 %laying music7 talkin'7 laughin'8

Walter

egroes7 ne#er %ass u% a chance to shuck and ji#e.

Doleda

!ell7 I'm gon be right dare shuckin' and ji#in' right &it' em.

Walter

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;ou goin'8

Doleda

#erybody o#er the age of consent is goin'7 man.

Walter

!ell7 &hile your out dare %artying the night a&ay7 I'll be here &orking.

Doleda

Oh7 sto% it. It's good to get out some time7 mi &ith %eo%le7 esca%e from your troubles

for a s%ell.

Walter

onsense.

Doleda

ot nonsense7 !alter. !hat8 ;ou gon s%end the rest of your life cou%ed$u% here lookin'o#er your ledgers and &riting8

Walter

I just might at that.

Doleda

*hen you gon dro% dead o#er one of those ledgers. lone.

Walter

s that %oet fella . . . ,onrad7 I think his name &as . . . said7 &e li#e as &e dream alone.J

Doleda

nd &hat the hell does that mean8

Walter

It mean that no matter &hat &e do7 or &ho around7 our journey through life is a lonely

one any&ay.

Doleda

"em damn books dun &ar%ed &hat little brain you got left7 you kno& that8 4%ause I

don't care &hat you say7 on 3aturday7 I'm gon cut a rug.

Walter

"amned scandal . . . a single &omen going to a dance7 by herself . . . a scandal.

Doleda

)irst of all I'm a &oman not a child. I can go any damn %lace I &ant &ithout the com%any

of man and second of all &ho said I &as going alone8

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Walter

nd &hat that mean8

Doleda

+uh8

Walter

I said and &hat that mean8

Doleda

!hat's that no&8

Walter

!hat you mean8 ;ou not going alone8

Doleda

*o the dance8Walter

Of course to the dance8

Doleda

!ell7 I did ha#e a gentlemen caller &ho &as interested in escorting me to the dance.

Walter

entleman caller8 !ho8

Doleda

nd &hy is that your business7 dad8 "idn't kno& I needed %ermission to go out on my

off time.

Walter

"on't mess around &ith me7 &oman. !ho is he8

Doleda

!ell7 if you must kno&7 Mr. "a#idson7 6ance +endrickson7 &as kind enough to . . .

Walter

. . . 6ance +endrickson. 6ance +endrickson. *hat highste%%in' yella. *hat smooth

talkin' dandy7 candy ass7 s%ort. Is you kiddin' me8 ;ou can do better7 much better than

that oily son of gun . . .

Doleda

. . . !ell7 I ha#en't told him yes yet7 but . . .

Walter

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. . . But &hat8

Doleda

!ell7 !alter it's not like I ha#e a gang of men lining u% outside my door lookin' to

%artake in my com%any. nd 6ance is a barber7 &it his o&n sho%7 handsome enough7

seems fairly accommodating.

Walter

+e's accommodating alright . . . lookin' to accommodate you in his bedroom.

Doleda

nd &ho say that is necessarily a bad thang8

Walter

3candalous. ;ou a mama.

DoledaMama's need lo#e too. +ell7 ho& you think )estus got here in the first %lace8

Walter

;ou bet not let that slick7 hair sni%%ing fool7 lay a finger on you.

Doleda

;a ne#er kno&7 a scandalous &oman goin' out on the to&n &ith a high ste%%in' yella fella

of distinction7 ne#er kno& &here dat gon lead.

Walter

e#er.

Doleda

nd &hat's it to you8 4%ause

Walter

I don't kno&7 just tryin' to look out for you is all.

Doleda

Is that all. )act remains I only got one in#ite to the dance to %onder.

Walter

4%ause !ell7 no& you got t&o.

Doleda

+o&'s that8

Walter

I'm gon take you to that dance.

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Doleda

eally8 nd &ho says I &ant to go &ith some old gruff e$railroad man8

Walter

;ou like to toss me in the ground and toss on the dirt7 right8 !e're going to that dance

and that's that.

Doleda

nd &hat about 6ance8

Walter

+e can go sha#e himself fo' all I care.

Doleda

!ell7 Mr. "a#idson7 I &ill take your kind offer under consideration and get back to you

&ith my ans&er.Walter

et back . . . I . . .

Doleda

. . . ;es7 Mr. "a#idson7 I &ill grant you the %leasure of my com%any. nd don't &ear any

of them railroad man7 %eacock shirts. I &ant you to &ear your nice black church suit.

nd maybe you can go see 6ance about a sha#e.

Walter

ny other directions7 -resident "oleda.

Doleda

o7 I think dats it for no&. 4The scene goes black.

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,* O(3, )I

()#ama, is sitting on a wooden bench. The spotlight is focused tight on thebench. !e is looking around and looking an+ious.

Babo

/Bama7 that you8

Bama

!ho else8

Babo

3orry I'm late.

Bama

"amn7 you got me out at this damned rail yard &aitin' fo' yo' monkey ass.

Babo

+ell7 I been runnin' round like a damned yard dog.

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23/72

,* O(3, 3IL

("alter is down in the rail yard. -n stage is simply a wooden bench. !e issitting and eating pecans. A man enters the stage. !e is an African Americanand very well dressed.

Rochester

Mr. "a#idson8 Mr. !alter "a#idson8

Walter

4!e continues to look forward and does not look at the stranger. I lo#e this %lace. Dse

to &ork here seem like a hundred years ago. +ard &ork being a rail road man7 s%ecially

&hen they got you &orking the yard. Many backs been broke right in this here yard.

o&7 I do soft &ork7 figuring and running my businesses and counting the money that

come in. I &ork u% there. On that hill7 that's my office &indo&. *he one &ith the light.

Rochester

My name is !illiam ochester III.

Walter

*his is a small to&n really. One train in and one train out. 3ome days in a strange kind of

&ay I miss this %lace. 3ome days I &ill just sit here and &atch the beautiful music of Two

Trains unning. *he back and forth of it all. It's soothing really.

Rochester

2=


24/72

I heard in to&n you might be do&n here at the rail yard.

Walter

I'm &aiting for the 1H10 to 3ilar ,ity7 got some business u% that &ay.

Rochester

gain my name . . .

Walter

!illiam ochester III4"alter looks down at the strangers shoes. ;ou ha#e really shiny

shoes. /Bout &hat t&o7 three coats of %olish8 "amn nice shoes. Maybe too nice. My

father al&ays told me to ne#er trust a man &ith shiny shoes.

Rochester

Dh . . . &ell . . . Dh . . ..

WalterI'm just fuckin' &it chu boy. "on't you educated egroes got a sense of humor8

Rochester

+o& did you kno& I &as educated8

Walter

I sell clothes for a li#ing. man is &hat he &ears. nd you a 100 dollar colored if e#er I

sa& one. !hat does a fella like you &ant &ith an old rail road man like myself8

Rochester

;ou're a little more than that7 Mr. "a#idson.

Walter

m I no&8 !ho say8

Rochester

I say. nd so does the scores of readers &ho are drinking in the call for liberation like

&ater from a gourd. ;our &ords sir7 your elo>uent &ords ha#e hit their mark. "on't sit

still7 don't be led to the ri#er of your o&n o%%ression7 stand u% &here you are and fight for

that freedom that od himself has gi#en you.J

Walter

Only thing I &rite in is the ledger to my businesses. If you &ill ecuse me. 4"alter

$avidson stands up to leave and "illiam ochester III blocks his way and gently places

his hand on his chest.

Rochester

2?


25/72

!ait.

Walter

I ain't one to let other men lay hands on me7 s%ecially &hen I ha#e a mind to lea#e7 no&

kindly maneu#er out my &ay. 4"illiam ochester III &uickly puts his hand down.

Rochester

-lease sit7 just gi#e me a minute 4%ause. -lease. 4"alter studies "illiam ochesters

face and then decides to sit back down on the bench. 3ir7 I am not trying to anger you7

but &e need your hel%.

Walter

;ou're a &e no&8 I'm talkin' to a &e8

Rochester

I am from the ational ssociation of fricani:ed mericans . . . other &ise kno&n as.

Walter

;ou from a grou% called naaaa8 *hat's a joke of some sort7 right8

Rochester

o7 sir I assure you that our goal is >uite serious. I am the regional coordinator for Ohio7

Indiana7 -ennsyl#ania and Centucky7 just o#er the ri#er there.

Walter

fricani:ed mericans8 !hat the hell that mean8

Rochester

It is just a &ay for the egroes to dra& a link to the %lace of our origin.

Walter

I don't kno& about that7 but I don't kno& many egroes &ho &anna be linked to frica.

"on't get me &rong no&7 I a%%reciate the attem%t7 but coloreds ain't ready to make that

lea%. It's hard enough to get egroes to be %roud to be egroes.

Rochester

3o is that &hy you &rite the things that you &rite8

Walter

I don't follo& ya meaning. 4"illiam reaches into his pocket and pull out a /egro Times.

Rochester

25


26/72

*his is not your %a%er8 I kno& %eo%le that kno& %eo%le and I kno& that this is your

%a%er.

Walter

nd I su%%ose you are s%reading these rumors around8 *his ain't the north Mr.

ochester7 such a rumor could get a man killed.

Rochester

My secrets are confidential I assure you. ;our secret is still safe as far as most %eo%le in

to&n are concerned. But &e need your hel%.

Walter

My hel% for &hat8

Rochester

!e need to make the business district accountable for the system of o%%ression theysu%%ort.

Walter

Meaning &hat8

Rochester

Meaning boycott. !e can cut the ri#er of money that flo&s into their bloated coffers. Ds

egroes feed the beast that de#ours us. !e can fi that. nd &e can use your %a%er to

deli#er the message. !e are ha#ing a meeting at -eterson -ark.

Walter

"o&n on 3u%erior #enue8

Rochester

;es.

Walter

meeting8

Rochester

meeting to discuss a boycott. 6ike ones &e ha#e organi:ed in other cities in Ohio.

Walter

*his &e that you are a%art of7 this &ouldn't be that northern grou% that came to "ayton

back about se#en or eight years ago8 Best I can remember a lot of %eo%le &ere hurt7

needlessly. One of my em%loyees7 "oleda7 li#ed in "ayton for a s%ell7 from &hat she tell

2@


27/72

me that little gathering stirred &hite folks u% for years. *hey still %lucking the bodies out

of the trees.

Rochester

*hat &as not our intent.

Walter

e#er is.

Rochester

It &as unfortunate7 but necessary.

Walter

It &as a mess. nd this /&e' you kee% talkin' about that &ouldn't be the &e

dat almost got ;oungsto&n burned to the ground last month8

Rochester*hat &asn't our fault.

Walter

Is that right8 ;ou boys organi:e a boycott against the &hite stores and you thought there

&ouldn't be any reaction8

Rochester

*hey sent out some men to sto% us and it got out of hand.

Walter

!hat make you think the same thing ain't gon ha%%en here8

Rochester

It might. I can't guarantee that it &on't. But &e cannot scurry into the corner of history

and be stilled. o longer can &e shirk or res%onsibilities.

Walter

;ou are a dangerous man in dangerous times. ;ou're a child that doesn't ha#e a clue

ho& >uickly the hammer comes do&n. I &ant the same things7 but it's got to be a

%rocess. !e're just not ready for the le#el of change your grou% is calling for. !e gotta

cra&l before &e can &alk. nd your grou% is calling for an all out s%rint.

Rochester

I'#e read your &ords they don't seem to ad#ocate cra&ling at all. *he seem to beg for full

out re#olution.

Walter

2


28/72

*hen you didn't read it all. I said7 rise u% &ere you are to fight o%%ression. I didn't say

nothing /bout committing suicide. Before &e can raise the egro u%7 &e'#e got to build

him u%. aise his a&areness7 his confidence7 his sense of himself7 or he &ill fail. 3ome of

you u% north7 yello& city niggas ain't learned that lesson yet.

Rochester

!e can no longer &ait7 Mr. "a#idson7 the egro has nothing else to lose.

Walter

onsense. I'm a man got to li#e here long after you and that organi:ation of yours mo#es

on to the net cause. *his to&n ain't no damn cause7 it's our home. I don't &ant any %art

of this meeting you tryin' to %ull together. egro times ain't about getting' folks

disa%%eared. 4"alter $avidson stands up to leave. ood luck7 Mr. ochester7 you sho

nuff gon need it.Rochester

4!e stands also and talks to "alter $avidsons back as he e+its the stage. s egroes

of conscious &e not only ha#e the ability to act7 but the obligation. !e can not &alk a&ay

from the fight. 4"alter $avidson turns ust as he is about the e+it the stage.

Walter

!atch me. 4"e here a train whistle in the background. *he 1H10 is coming do&n the rail.

4"alter e+its the stage.

2A


29/72

,* O(3, 3

("alter and estus enter the scene and they are both carrying soda pop in theirhands. They are talking as they enter the scene.

Walter

Boy7 getcho tail in here I s&ear you get slo&er by the day.

Festus

It's just this malted7 Mr. !alter. I &anna make sure that I don't s%ill any&heres /ce%t my

belly.

Walter

3ho nuff7 )estus7 sho nuff. 3it it o#er there on my desk7 and be careful7 don't s%ill

anything on my floor. 4estus goes over to "alters desk and sits down his malted. nd

here sit mines do&n too. 4estus takes "alters malted and sits it on his desk. "alter

walks to the back of the stage and uncovers several bundles of papers. ,ome o#er here

and hel% me undo these bundles.

Festus

;es 3ir.

Walter

4"ith his bare hands "alter begins to snap the twine ropes of the bundles and then starts

separating the papers into piles. ll the long sheets %ut them here and if any of the

sheets are short or got any hitches in them %ut /em o#er there. 3ome times &hen they

gra:ing the %a%er they get crinkled. 4estus is struggling with his bale of paper.

Walter

!hat a big fella like you can't %ull a%art those t&ine strings8

Festus

I s&ear dey made of steel.

Walter

6ike chains7 huh son.

Festus

29


30/72

I guess.

Walter

a&7 I just think ya'll young folk done got soft. +ell7 &hen I &us yo age I &as toting big

old %arcels into bocars t&o at a time. !ith one on the to% of my head.

Festus

on7 no& Mr. !alter . . .

Walter

I think I &as three &hen I got my first job.

Festus

!hen you &as three.

Walter

;eah7 s%litting lumber at the mill yards.Festus

I think you tellin' tall ones7 Mr. !alter.

Walter

!e used to catch fish &ith our bare hands too. Boy7 back then t&o labama boys &as as

good as ten men.

Festus

One day I'm gon be as good as ten men7 you jus' &atch and see7 Mr. !alter.

Walter

. . . I'm tellin' ya.. I &as a sight to see in my younger days. 4%ause But that &as back

then7 no& a boy's best bet is to tote them books u% to the school house stead of lumber.

Festus

in't nothin' at that school house but a room full of &ords7 ain't ne#er seen &ords %ut

food in a man's belly.

Walter

;eah7 you might be right7 )estus7 but then again maybe food in the belly ain't the %oint7

sometime &hat &e need is a little fire in the belly7 son. *hat's &here the &ords come in.

Eus' like all them &hite men7 in the suits do&nto&n. *hey don built a &hole &orld on

&ords.

Festus

But they &hite7 Mr. !alter. !orld don't &ork the same for ,oloreds.

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31/72

Walter

*rue. But &hat is ain't al&ays &hat's gon be. I'm jealous of you boy. *he &orld you

gon see7 long after me and yo' mama is dead and gone there gon be a &orld ain't e#en

been dreamed yet. #erything &e old %eo%le do got to be fo' you and &orld you gon

build.

Festus

I just &ant to be like you7 Mr. !alter7 I don't &ant to build . . .

Walter

3on7 you ain't got no choice in it. *hat's &hat it means to be a man. Men don't hide.

!hen the ri%%les of history &ash o#er us7 &e can't di% our heads in the sand. nd &hen

the changes come7 young bucks like yourself &ill be there to do &hat got to be done.

FestusI don't kno& &hut chu mean7 Mr. !alter.

Walter

4%ause. o mind boy7 you &ill understand soon enough. +o& you comin' &ith those

bundles8

Festus

*ough as chains.

Walter

,hains can be broke too. Eus' got to ha#e the right tool. 4"alter reaches into his waist

belt. +ere take this knife. ,ut from the bottom u% and &atch your fingers. ,areful you

don't hurt yo self. ;o mama &ould thro& a fit.

Festus

MamaF I &as s'%osed to finish s%litting dem logs and toting &ater u% from the &ell by

dinner. I forgot. Mama is gon be all kinds of mad. I gotta go7 Mr. !alter . . .

Walter

3ettle do&n boy7 you &it me. "on't &orry about it7 &e t&o fine gentle of leisure ha#ing a

good time. ;our mama can &ait for those damned logs.

Festus

But Mr. !alter7 Mama don't . . .

Walter

I said don't &orry about it7 no& sit do&n. !e gon finish cutting these bales and then

=1


32/72

finish our malteds.

Festus

nd mama8

Walter

!hat I look like to you7 a man or a boy8

Festus

&7 Mr. !alter . . .

Walter

I'm serious. man or a boy8

Festus

!hy a man7 Mr. !alter.

Walteractly. 3o let me deal &ith yo' mama.

Festus

;es. 3ir. 4"e hear a voice off stage calling for estus.

Doleda

)esuts7 &here you at boy8 )estus. 4$oleda appears through thecurtain. )estus. I been

lookin' all o#er for you. Boy you ain't touched a lick of yo' chores.

Festus

I &as &it'7 Mr. !alter. +e took me to get a malted and &e &alked the north trail o#er by

*ar#er -ark . . .

Doleda

Instead of doin' yo chores8

Walter

!ell7 "oleda I told the boy that it &ould be okay if . . .

Doleda

!alter7 right no& I am talkin' to my son. nd so &hen &ere you intending to get to your

chores8

Festus

Mr. !alter said that didn't ha#e to &orry about it.

Walter

!hoa7 &hoa7 )estus7 &hat I said &as . . .

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33/72

Doleda

,an you ecuse me7 !alter7 I need to talk to my son.

Walter

cuse8 cuse for &hat8

Doleda

I told you7 I need to talk to my son.

Walter

!hat the hell7 I need to be . . .

Doleda

!alterF )ind the door . . .

Walter

. . . *his is still my office . . .Doleda

. . . ot for the net fe& minutes it ain't. o& find the door.

Walter

But . . .

Doleda

. . . *he door7 !alter7 find the damned door and find it no&. 4"alter e+its the back door.

,ome here. "id you here me7 )estus8

Festus

Mama7 I . . .

Doleda

I don't remember ha#ing to ask you t&ice before7 come here.

Festus

. . . But mama

Doleda

,ome7 here7 )estus.

Festus

Mama . . .

Doleda

)estus7 I said come here. 4estus walks over to his mother. !e stops a few feet in front of

her. *he waves him in even closer. Then she bends down so that her face is ust inches

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34/72

from estus face. I kno& that today you got s>uee:ed /t&een me and !alter . . . tough

%lace to be I guess7 so &hat ha%%ened today7 you get that for free7 but )estus7 if you e#er

go against my &ord again7 I &ill ri% the black off yo' hyde7 you understand me8 I'm yo'

Mama7 and on this %lanet no other &ord go o#er mine7 not e#en7 !alter's.

Festus

;es7 mama.

Doleda

o& you got fi#e minutes to get yo butt do&n to the &ood%ile and handle your chores fo'

sunset catch ya.

Festus

;es7 Mama. 4!e e+its the stage "alter enters behind her.

WalterIs it okay to enter my o&n office no&8

Doleda

)estus7 &ent to finish his chores.

Walter

I don't like being sent a&ay like I &as a youngin'.

Doleda

*hen sto% acting like one.

Walter

I don't kno& &ho in the hell you figure you talkin' to but you better start mindin' yo'

tongue &hen you talk to me7 &oman.

Doleda

I ain't one to be treated like a youngin' either7 !alter.

Walter

!oman . . .

Doleda

"on't do that.

Walter

"o &hat8

Doleda

3ay &oman like it &as a cuss &ord7 or sumthin' less den &hut you is.

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35/72

Walter

!hat8

Doleda

I'm a &oman7 !alter. li#in'7 breathing7 flesh and blood &oman. !ith hi%s and cur#es

and t&ists . . . and &ith a heart7 !alter. I'm a &oman . . . look at me. &oman and all

that that means. 3o &hen you say &oman7 egro7 make it sound like %earls are dro%%ing

from yo' tongue.

Walter

6ook &ome . . . "oleda7 I care about you7 I &ouldn't ne#er say somethin' to make you

feel like less . . . I don't e#en kno& &hat got you so head u%. I mean . . .

Doleda

. . . *hen don't e#er do that again.Walter

"o &hat8

Doleda

*ell my son that it's okay to disobey his mama. ;ou &anna hel% me &ith )estus7 fine7 but

don'tchu e#er try to rule o#er me7 I'm not a child.

Walter

I &as just . . .

Doleda

. . . ;ou &ere just interfering in %lace you didn't belong.

Walter

,an't ha#e it both &ays7 6eda. If you &ant me in the boy's life . . . if you &ant a man to

be in the boy's life . . . then you ha#e to let a man be a man.

Doleda

*elling my son that its okay to not listen to his mother got nothing to do &ith being a man.

I got feelin' for you7 !alter7 al&ays ha#e7 but I got res%onsibilities &ith dat boyK to hel%

him gro& u% to be somethin' other than one of those layabouts in to&n. nd ain't nothin'

gon get in the &ay of dat7 not e#en my feelin' for you.

Walter

I &ould ne#er do anything to hurt that boy7 and you kno& . . .

Doleda

=5


36/72

. . . and &hat about me !alter7 &hat about hurting me8 I &ant you in his life7 more than

anything7 but that don't mean that you gon thro& me to the side. I'm his mama and as far

as )estus goes7 the &orld gon s%in the &ay I say. nd either you can li#e &it dat or not.

If not7 like I said before7 you can find the door. "o you understand8 41ong pause

Walter

I didn't mean to interfere.

Doleda

I kno& it. ;our a good man7 you mean &ell. It just that sometime you tri% o#er ya o&n

self. 4%ause nd I'm sorry too.

Walter

3orry for &hat8

Doleda3orry for yelling at you in front of )estus. I shouldn't ha#e done dat. I didn't mean to

make you look like less of man that you are.

Walter

3o in other &ords you should ha#e scolded me in %ri#ate.

Doleda

actly.

Walter

/*&een you and the boy7 ya'll both like to dri#e me cra:y.

Doleda

!ell7 luckily for you7 !alter7 dats a %retty short dri#e.

Walter

It &on't ha%%en again7 6eda.

Doleda

nd I kno& it. ;ou just ha%%en to be the most honorable man that I kno&7 Mr.

"a#idson. nd &e gon beat dem foolish ideas you got about the fairer se straight out of

you.

Walter

;ou damned &omen7 I s&ear I &ish that sometime od offered a &ider selection for us

%oor old men. 4*he hugs "alter and rubs his face.

Doleda

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37/72

;ou need to sha#e.

Walter

;eah. 4%ause I guess I &ill go and talk to the boy.

Doleda

o need7 !alter7 his mother dun already talked to him. 4*he e+its the scene.

,* *!O(3, O

("alter $avidson is sleeping on the sofa in the back room of his shop. estusenters the scene and begins to look around. !e &uietly sneaks over to "altersar of gumballs and opens the top. !e removes a gumball and pops it into hismouth. A voice pierces through the green curtains of "alters back room.

Doleda

!alter8 !alter8 ;ou back there8 4estus looks around and runs over to barrel and

hides behind it. "alter $avidson begins to stir he turns over suddenly and fall on the

ground.2 !alter7 there's some &hite men out here looking for you.3"alter $avidson

stands up and begins to compose himself.

Walter

!hite men8 !ho8

Doleda

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38/72

!ouldn't kno&. I don't think that I ha#e e#er set eyes on these fellas in my life.

Walter

Okay. i#e me /bout fi#e minutes and send /em in.

Doleda

Okay. 4"alter $avidson begins to straighten up the room. !e hides the bale of papers

and the parcel of ink. Then he hides the portable paper press underneath an American

flag. Then he wipes over his hair with his hands and walks over to his desk and sits

down. !e waits for the stranger to enter his office. In walks a young man in his early

twenties with dark black hair and deep set dark eyes. !e is wearing a black suit that is

two or three years4old but is not shabby.

Delano

Mr. "a#idson7 it is nice to meet you. My name is "elano. massa "elano. 4"alter$avidson stands up and walks across the desk to shake hands with the friendly smiling

stranger, who is swinging an old fashioned pocket watch.

Walter

-leasure.

Delano

-leasures all mine 4$elano takes a seat across from "alter $avidsons desk.

Walter

!hat can I hel% you &ith7 sir8

Delano

!ell7 I'm ne& in to&n. Eust been hired actually and &hene#er I come to a %lace7 I like to

take the lay of the land. nd %lus I hear tell &e're from the same neck of the &oods.

Walter

*hat so8 ;ou from labama8

Delano

,ome on no& Mr. "a#idson7 my accent didn't gi#e me a&ay8 I'm from *uscaloosa.

Walter

I gre& u% right outside *uscaloosa.

Delano

*hat's &hat I heard. !hat do ya kno&7 t&o labama boys lost in this strange hostile land

called7 Ohio. 4$elano sets his pocket watch on the desk.

=A


39/72

Walter

)or some home can be just as strange and hostile as any %lace else.

Delano

I &ould imagine.

Walter

!hat brings you so far from home8

Delano

6ike I said7 &ork7 Mr. "a#idson. !ork.

Walter

eally. If you don't mind me asking &hat kind of &ork do you do8

Delano

I am . . . &hat I guess you &ould call a . . . %roblem sol#er of sorts. I find %ermanentsolutions to difficult dilemmas.

Walter

3o &hat are you a -inkerton8

Delano

o7 sir. I ha#e ne#er been closely tethered to the la&. My brand of justice tends to be

more of the unofficial #ariety. nd my rulings are not subject to a%%eal.

Walter

4"alter $avidson stands up and walks over to the green curtain and peers through it.

nd the fella out there %erusing through my fine shirts8

Delano

*hat's )urman. +e's an assistant.

Walter

eally8

Delano

+e's a #ery ca%able man. little to in lo#e &ith the conce%t of #iolence for my tasteK but

he has an ability to thoroughly com%lete a task &hen gi#en.

Walter

3ounds like a difficult business.

Delano

-erha%s. But it don't change the fact though.

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40/72

Walter

!hat fact8

Delano

*he fact that I ha#e been hired by a #ery %o&erful grou% of men in this to&n &ho are

getting #ery ner#ous.

Walter

er#ous. er#ous /bout &hat8 I can't think of many things might make &hite men

ner#ous short of death itself.

Delano

*heir ner#ous about this ne& egro %a%er. ;ou'#e heard of it . . this egro *imes.

;ou don't kno& &here a fella could get a co%y do ya8

Walteregro *imes8 I'm not >uite familiar.

Delano

Oh7 you kno& that %a%er that all the railroad men been carrying /round. *he one that

talks about changin' things. I just ha%%ened to run across a co%y. 4%ause I seen a lot

%a%ers in my tra#els7 and I gotta admit7 this is one of the best I'#e seen. !ell$&ritten7

&ith strong %oint of #ie&. One thing missing though &as the funnies. I lo#e the funnies.

Walter

I don't kno& &here you &ould be able to find such a %a%er. I don't get myself mied u%

in any such nonsense.

Delano

Bet&een me7 you and the light %ost7 Mr. "a#idson7 I mostly agree &ith &hat I ha#e read.

I mean &hy should a man %ay full %rice to only enjoy half the ser#ice. "oesn't make much

sense to me. ,olor is a skin dee% designation and nothing more. 4%ause But to be

honest I don't get %aid for my liberal ideas. I get %aid to sol#e %roblems and that's &hat I

ha#e a mind to do.

Walter

I can tell you a man don't deter easy &hen he has his mind set on somethin'.

Delano

?0


41/72

nd you don strike me as a man that takes no for an ans&er all that easy yo'self. I mean

think of it7 a egro man like yourself ha#ing come so far. )rom &hat I hear you o&n this

&hole damn block. *hat couldn't ha#e been easy.

Walter

o sir. Built it &ith my bare hands.

Delano

It &ould be a shame to thro& all that a&ay. ;ou sure you can't hel% me in finding this

%ublication8

Walter

o7 sir.

Delano

6ook7 here Mr. "a#idson7 my em%loyers are concerned &ith some of the ideas in that%ublication. I think the egro &ho &rote that %a%er has a %oint. +e is a smart man to be

sure. But sometime you can be too smart. *oo cle#er. If I kne& this man7 this &riter

&ho &rote so brilliantly about . . . &hat &ere the &ords he used so elo>uently8 J*he

indelible7 blood stained history &o#en into the fabric of merica7J If I kne& such a man7 I

&ould &ant to be a friend to him. I might tell such a man that he had made his %ointK in

s%ades. I might tell such a man enough already. *he blo& has already been struck.

*hat's if I kne& such a man.

Walter

6o#ely &ords7 Mr. "elano. ;ou s%eak like a %oet. But I don't kno& &hat all of this has

to do &it me7 sir.

Delano

*he rumor &as that if a man had a mind to7 he could find that %a%er /round this #ery

immediate area..

Walter

o7 sir.

Delano

o7 sir7 huh8 lright7 I guess I ha#e to take your &ord for it. . . at least for no&. But if

that %a%er continues to be %ublished it's gon stir black folk something terrible. nd if it all

goes to hell7 me and Mr. )urman are going to be the ones they send to set things right.

;ou had better remember that7 Mr. "a#idson.

?1


42/72

Walter

Dnderstood. o& may I hel% you &ith anything else7 Mr. "elano8 shirt %erha%s8

*hat's the business I'm in.

Delano

;ou are a notion7 Mr. "a#idson. #erified notion. 4$elano straightens his acket and

composes himself and then strolls out of the room. "e hear the voice of $oleda "atkins

from through the green curtains.

Doleda

!alter7 can you come out here and gi#e me a hand7 this blasted money register is stuck

again.

Walter

Okay7 here I come. 4"alter $avidson walks through the green curtains. rom behindone of the barrels on stage, estus emerges and walks forward. !e walks over to the

desk where $elano was sitting and picks up his watch and rubs it between his fingers.

Then he runs through the back door where $elano left from. The stage goes dark.

?2


43/72

,* *!O(3, *!O

($elano enters into the scene and sits down on the bench. estus has followed

$elano to the rail yard. !e is hiding behind a strand of bushes.Delano

;ou kno& son7 as one &ho %ractices the clandestine arts7 you ha#e far to go in this

business of s%ying. 3o &hy don't you just come on out into the o%en. 4estus continues

to hide in the bushes and does not come out. ,ome on no&7 git cho self from out of

those bushes son7 before some one takes you for a >uail. 4estus emerges from the

bushes. ;ou're the little fella I sa& tagging round the clothing store earlier7 right8 ;ou

hear me talking to you boy8 !ell ans&er8 bonified southern gentleman has just %osed

a >uery. It's only right that you ans&er.Festus

;es7 sir.

Delano

!hat's your name boy8

Festus

)etus. )estus !atkins.

Delano

)estus !atkins7 huh8 et o#er here front and center Mr. )estus !atkins$$$and %ick those

eyes u% from the ground. man al&ays kee%s his eyes u%. 4)estus &alks e#en closer to

"elano and stands in front of him. 3o &hat can I do you for8

Festus

!ell sir . . . I . . . &ell7 I kinda7 sorta found . . .

?=


44/72

Delano

. . . Boy you got marbles rolling /round in yo' mouth8 3%it it out7 son.

Festus

;o' %ocket &atch. ;ou left yo' %ocket &atch.

Delano

!ell7 +ell's Bells . . . &here did I lea#e that blasted thing8

Festus

In Mr. !alter's office.

Delano

+e had you bring it to me8

Festuso7 sir. Mr. !alter don't kno& I'm here. I &as listening in the back &hilst ya'll &us

talkin'.

Delano

a#esdro%%ing. I sho'll nuff kno& yo' mama taught chu better. !here I come from such

an offense could earn a young man a tri% to the &oodshed.

Festus

;es7 sir.

Delano

&7 don't &orry son7 I &on't turn you in. ,ome7 set do&n a s%ell. ;ou kno& &ho ga#e

me that &atch youngin'8

Festus

o7 sir8

Delano

My daddy. 41ong pause +e &as a rough sort. l&ays bello&ing through the house like

a gri::y that got his tail caught. +e &as a small man7 in a small to&n7 this &atch &as

%robably the only thang he o&ned that &asn't smudged or dirty. !hen he died7 it got

handed o#er to me.

Festus

!us yo' daddy a good man8 I ne#er really kno&ed my daddy8

Delano

??


45/72

o7 son he &asn't7 he tried to be7 but his life just ate him u%7 ya kno& like a ,ancer.

Festus

nd you8 re you a good man7 sir8

Delano

I don't kno&8 "o I look like a bad man8

Festus

!ell7 bes I can tell sir7 being bad ain't al&ays on the outside7 it's mostly &ere a body can't

see on the inside.

Delano

;ou ha#e a %oint I guess . . . I ha#e on occasion done some fairly bad things7 &e all fall

short of the glory7 son.

Festus;ou does bad by folk don'tchu8

Delano

;es. I ha#e not e#er heard my life summed u% in such a &ay but yes I hurt %eo%le for a

li#ing.

Festus

+a#e you come to hurt7 Mr. !alter8

Delano

If necessary7 yes. But I'm ho%ing it don't end that &ay.

Festus

!hy do the &orld &ork dat &ay8

Delano

I don't kno&. !hat I do kno& is that it &on't al&ays be this &ay. Me7 Mr. !alter7 yo

mama &e all are #estiges of a dying %ast7 someday &e gon gi#e &ay to the future7 young

bucks like yourself and then the &orld &ill be yours to sha%e.

Festus

;o life sounds tiring.

Delano

It tis. It's &hy I come to this here rail yard. I like to look at the ri#er7 it reminds me of

home and sim%ler times.

Festus

?5


46/72

If it's tiring7 &hy do you do it then8

Delano

I s&ear to you )estus I don't kno& anymore. ;ou find out &hen you get older that

sometimes you start do&n a %ath as a youngster and then you look u% years later and you

don't recogni:e yourself. 4%ause

Festus

-lease don't hurt7 Mr. !alter.

Delano

It is not in my hands . . . I am ho%ing it does not come to that.

Festus

+e is a good man.

Delano*hat don't figure in7 good men get killed e#ery day.

Festus

But dat don't make it right.

Delano

ight don't figure in either.

Festus

It should.

Delano

-erha%s.

Festus.

-erha%s. "ats &hat gro&n folk say &hen dey don't &ant to ans&er.

Delano

)estus . . .

Festus.

4#eat "o you belie#e that Mr. !alter should be hurt8

Delano

!hat I think don't matter boy. *he &orld don't s%in /round &hat I think or don't.

Festus

;ou didn't ans&er the >uestion again7 Mr. "elano. "o you belie#e7 Mr. !alter done

something &rong8 3omething &orth hurting him for8

?@


47/72

Delano

)estus you are too young to understand7 but there is . . . there is a certain order to the &ay

things &ork . . . and e#erything7 e#erything &e see and do7 the air &e breath7 the &ater &e

drink7 it's all fashioned /round that order. nd certain thangs7 Mr. !alter is doin' is

threatening to unra#el that #ery delicate fabric. *o disru%t order. I'#e come to sto% that.

)estus

3o you think its right8

Delano

Maybe it's not7 but I don't get to say. I do &hat I am told. !hat I am %aid to do.

Festus

!rong is &rong.

Delano;ou don't understand I'm the man that does things.

Festus

I understand. ;ou're the man that makes thangs ha%%en. !it out you stuff can't ha%%en

at all.

Delano

I ha#e to.

Festus

o7 Mr. "elano7 no you don't.

Festus

+ere's yo &atch7 sir.

Delano

I s'%ose if I had a youngin' I &ould gi#e him that &atch. 3ince I don't7 &hy don't you

hanging on to it for me.

Festus

My mama &on't ne#er allo& me to kee% . . .

Delano

Mamas are nice . . . best creation od e#er made7 but &e don't need to trouble those

%recious creatures /bout e#erything. *his can be /t&een you and me7 t&o men making a

gentleman's echange. *uck it a&ay some&here safe.

Festus

?


48/72

*hank you7 Mr. "elano.

Delano

o7 thank you7 Mr. )estus for getting that %iece of junk off my hands. nd I &ill think

about &hat &e ha#e talked about. o& git. 4estus e+its the stage

Delano

My daddy's %robably fli%%ing in his gra#e7 his %recious &atch in the hands of a egro

child. est in %eace daddy. est in %eace. 4!e e+its the stage. The stage goes dark.

,* *!O(3, *+

(The scene opens and a shadowy figure is sitting at "alters desk with his faceobscured. $oleda enters the back room carrying a bundle of clothes.

Rochester

;ou cut your hair.

Doleda

!alter8

?A


49/72

Rochester

ot >uite.

Doleda

6ord in hea#en.

Rochester

I am not >uite sure if 6ord is in his hea#en . . . but then again I'm certainly not the one to

be s%eaking about religion am I8

Doleda

!illiam8 !hat the hell you . . .

Rochester

. . . "oing here8 Eust in the neighborhood I su%%ose and thought I &ould dro% by to see

my lady lo#e.Doleda

ot that sil#er tongue of yours fla%%ing at full strength I see. in't much use of that slick

e& ;ork talk /round here. !here is !alter8

Rochester

I heard one of the rail road men say that he &as on the northbound tra#eling to 3ilar ,ity.

-robably be back by su%%er time I'm sure.

Doleda

nd you still ha#en't ans&ered my >uestion. !hat are you doing here8

Rochester

!hat I am al&ays doing7 I am &orking for the mo#ement. 3o&ing seeds of re#olution

and change.

Doleda

In other &ords runnin' /round stirring the %ot and s%eaking at fancy rallies. "on't kno& if

it's enough lime light /round these %arts to suite a s%ort like you7 !illiam.

Rochester

*he light has already been %ro#ided. 4!e reaches into his bag and produces a newspaper

and slings it over the desk. *here's you s%otlight "oleda7 and I can't e#en take credit for

lighting the torch. *he egro *imes is a re#elation.

Doleda

*his s'%osed to mean something to me8

?9


50/72

Rochester

;ou trying to %lay %oker &ith me8

Doleda

o7 you kno& I ain't ne#a been %artial to %laying games.

Rochester

Eust %laying me7 huh8

Doleda

I ne#er %layed you7 !illiam. I ne#a lied to you.

Rochester

;ou &ere su%%osed to follo& me to e& ;ork . . .

Doleda

. . . fter the mess you left in "ayton8Rochester

"on't thro& that in my face that &as not . . .

Doleda

. . . I'm sorry7 I should ha#e ne#er %romised to come.

Rochester

;ou should ha#e left "ayton and come to e& ;ork ,ity &ith me. !e could ha#e made

a life there.

Doleda

#en as a girl I ne#a liked to %lay make belie#e. !hat &e had &asn't real. My husband

had just died and I needed . . . I needed someone to lean u% against. nd you &ere there

for me7 and I &ill al&ays ha#e dee% feeling for you for that. But I couldn't e#er lo#e you

like you &anted. I just didn't feel that for you.

Rochester

3o your letter said. I &aited "oledaK I &aited all day for that train to come into the

station.

Doleda

I'm sorry for that. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't %ack u% )estus and take him to a

dream land.

Rochester

3o you came here instead.

50


51/72

Doleda

;es.

Rochester

nd then . . .

Doleda.

. . . nd then I found a life. I found my !alter.

Rochester

*his !alter7 !alter "a#idson7 he must be a hell of man.

Doleda

+e is.

Rochester

I asked him to hel% me and . . .Doleda

. . . nd he told you go to hell.

Rochester

actly.

Doleda

+e's not %olitical. +e's a sim%le man.

Rochester

+is recent acti#ity &ould seem to indicate the contrary.

Doleda

I don't kno& &hat you mean.

Rochester

*he egro *imes.

Doleda

I don't kno& &hat the hell your . . .

Rochester

;ou ha#e a terrible %oker face7 "oleda. I kno& that he is the %ublisher of this %a%er. I

ha#e it on #ery good authority.

Doleda

3eems like you got hold to some bad information. !alter is just a &orking man. Cee%s

his nose buried in his ledger.

51


52/72

Rochester

,ome no&7 "oleda7 he's a little bit more than that.

Doleda


Rochester

;ou kno& eactly &hat I mean 4ochester gently grabs her upper forearm and turns her

around.

Doleda


Rochester

3ome %eo%le &ere not born to lie.

Doledao to hell.

Rochester

Been there7 didn't like the scenery.

Doleda

!hat do you &ant7 !illiam8

Rochester

!ell7 if I had my druthers7 you &ould come back to e& ;ork &ith me and lea#e this

sand hea% of a to&n behind . . . but if that is not on the menu7 I &ould like your hel%.

Doleda

My hel%8

Rochester

;es7 your hel%.

Doleda

+el%7 doing &hat8

Rochester

I need7 !alter "a#idson's hel% and . . .

Doleda

. . . o . . .

Rochester

. . . "oleda . . .

52


53/72

Doleda

. . . o . . .

Rochester

. . . +ear me out . . .

Doleda

. . . "un heard all I need to hear . . .

Rochester

. . . But . . .

Doleda

. . . o7 I &ouldn't let you ten feet near my !alter. ;ou got death in your eyes and you

lead men to the noose. /ound here black folks &ouldn't li#e long enough to enjoy this

change you tryin' to tear loose from &hite folks.Rochester

;ou use to belie#e in my idealsK they &ere your ideals too.

Doleda

6ong time ago7 !illiam. I ain't young as I use to be.

Rochester

;ou use to belie#e in me.

Doleda

&7 !illiam7 "on'tchu you kno&8 I ne#er belie#ed in you7 you &ere just that %retty face

and sil#er tongue e#ery girl gots in they %astK you &ere ne#er more than that.

Rochester

Dnlike this "a#idson fella8

Doleda

;es.

Rochester

I'#e read his &ords he doesn't seem that unlike me at all.

Doleda

ead his &ords. I'#e read his heart. nd he's nothing like you. +e &ants thangs7 for

himself7 for his %eo%le$$$but he's &illing to &ork7 dirty his hands if necessary. ;ou

nigs all talk %retty but &hen it's time for the &ork to be dun can't lay a hand on

nam one of ya'll

5=


54/72

Rochester

3o is this all you &antK to s%end your days in a clothing store %arceling out second hand

shirts to railroad men8 ;ou disa%%oint me. ;our better that this. ;our smarter this. *he

egro is not the only %erson in need of liberation7 "oleda.

Doleda

onna free me7 !illiam7 huh8 on get us %oor old &omen7 the #ote. +o& you gon offer

me somethin' you ain't earned for yo self8

Rochester

Before it can be a reality you ha#e to dream it first8 ;ou ha#e to belie#e it7 li#e it7 breathe

it. 3omeone has to shed the blood for freedom.

Doleda

)unny ho& nigga's like you ne#er seem to shed a dro%. It's the boot blacks7 the farmer7the ditch diggers7 that gotta %ay the %rice for those dreams.

Rochester

But someone has to dream it. !omen are a %art of that #ision. !omen are a %art of my

#ision. ,an !alter "a#idson say the same8 "oes he gi#e a &it about the >ueens of our

race being ele#ated to the e>ual of our kings8

Doleda

*ryin' to run do&n a man you ne#er met8

Rochester

I'm not running him do&n7 I'm asking a >uestion.

Doleda

;eah7 I &on't lie7 my !alter got some ideas runnin' /round that skull of his dat don't sit

right on my stomach . . .

Rochester

. . . *hen &hy do you lo#e him.

Doleda

nd &ho say I lo#e him8

Rochester

"o you take me for a fool8

Doleda

I ne#a said . . .

5?


55/72

Rochester

. . . I said do you take me for a fool8 6ook at you. ;our in lo#e.

Doleda

. . . I got feelin' for the man . . .

Rochester

. . . But not for me8

Doleda

o.

Rochester

!hy8 My chest not barrel sha%ed round enough8 My hair not course enough8 I lo#e you

. . . and not just as a subser#ient lackey that I bark orders toK I &ould lo#e you as a e>ual.

,an't you see that "oleda8Doleda

It's a hard thing to e%lain to a man like you. I care for !alter because &hen he touches

me he make me feel like a &oman. !hen looks at me he sees a &oman7 &hen you look at

me you see %aragra%h in a %olitical s%eech. I ain't some &retch in need of your guidanceK

I am not some condemned soul in need of sal#ation. I am &oman in need of a man.

Rochester

I ha#e to goK there is much &ork that needs to be done for the rally. 4!e turns and begins

to walk away.

Doleda

nd oh7 by the &ay7 if you cause trouble for my !alter you &ill deal &ith me. o& if you

&ill ecuse me I got used clothes to tend to. ;ou can eit out the &ay you came in. 4#oth

e+it the stage, ochester through the back door and $oleda through the green curtain.

*tage fades to black.

55


56/72

,* *!O(3, )OD

(In the beginning of the scene "alter is sitting at his work bench in the back ofhis store room. !e has a bundle in front of him and is writing on it. *tanding infront of him is a man in dark clothing. "alter $avidson is writing and he beginsto shake his pen as if the tip has run out of ink.

Walter

+ey7 6eda7 send that youngin' of yours back here . . . and tell him to bring the ink&ell off

the counter. 4estus runs into the room with an inkwell. !e places it on "alter

$avidsons desk

Festus

nything else7 Mr. !alter8

Walter

a&7 boy that'll do. o& scat. 4estus runs out of the room. o&7 /Bama7 he gon be

&aiting for you at aines -oint. I dun already described him to you. +e &ill be &aiting.

+is name is Ein7 tar black nigga7 look like a gorilla . . . he good %eo%le though. +and him

the bundle and he'll do the rest. 4"alter reaches into his pocket and grabs a roll of bills.

!e hands it over to )#ama. 4Be careful7 it might be some men on the look out for you.

BamaI kno& Boss7 I'll sho nuff be careful7 ne#er you mind it.

Walter

ood man. o& git for sunset catch ya. 4)#ama e+its. $oleda pokes her head through

the curtains of the back room.

Doleda

5@


57/72

3o7 has your secret agent been sent about his bidness8

Walter

,ome on back and sto% all that foolishness fo someone hear.

Doleda

obody to hear. I closed the store u% an hour ago.

Walter

ood. +o& &as bidness today8

Doleda

Bidness &as good$$$but I could ha#e used a little hel% though &hen it got busy. ;ou so

tied u% &ith this egro *imes bidness7 you been slacking on the bidness that %ay the bills.

Walter

;eah7 I kno&. I'm sorry /bout that. I meant to sli% u% front and gi#e you a hand7 but I&as . . .

Doleda

I kno& . . . in the middle of &riting one of them damned articles. I kno&. 6ately it's all

you li#e for.

Walter

I &rite the truth in a &orld that just as soon toss truth off a cliff. I sho& the blood and dirt

underneath that confederate flag. ;ou tell me &hat else could a man &ant8

Doleda

I don't kno&7 I &ould ho%e$$$you &ould &ant for life7 !alter. Eust to %lain old li#e.

Walter

But &hat kind of life8 Is a egro life really a life8 Is standing knee high &ith eyes cast

do&n a life8

Doleda

!e can't all be rebels7 like you. !e can't all reach in the sky and sco%e u% the stars like

%ebbles in a stream. 3omebody gotta raise the children &hen the dreamers s&ing from the

end of a ro%e. 3omebody gotta do the actual &ork that rebels can't bother to dirty dey

hands &it . . . 3omebody gotta be around to bury the stu%id and the %rideful

Walter

I %ity the man that gotta turn that sho#el.

Doleda

5


58/72

!ho say it gon be a man that's gon turn that sho#el8 $$$nd that sho#el &ill get turned

the &ay you going.

Walter

I ain't looking to die7 &oman I'm just try to li#e like a man. gro&n man. Back straight.

Bootstra%s %ulled u%. +ead high and eyes for&ard. *ell me &hy that's &rong8

Doleda

!ho said anything /bout &rong8 !hat &rong got to do &ith it8 *his &hole %a%er here

4*he reaches down and picks up a paper and surveys the headline. is about that. ight

and &rong7 as if it matter &orth a damn. I got feeling for you case you ha#en't noticed.

nd I ain't looking to turn no sho#el in your honor. Besides that boy in there need asomebody . . . a somebody to look at and learn ho& to be. I s'%ose I had al&ays ho%ed

that somebody might be you. 4"alter $avidson reaches out and puts his hands on her

shoulders

Walter

re you just lookin' for a daddy for the boy or do you see me tending to other fields as

&ell8

Doleda

!hy you al&ays askin' >uestions7 but don't gi#e no ans&ers8

Walter

!hatchu you &anna kno&8

Doleda

I don't kno& . . . I guess. . . I don't kno& . . .

Walter

. . . ;ou kno& . . . ask me. 4*he starts to turn away and "alter sei'es her shoulders and

turns her back into his ga'e. sk me.

Doleda

"o you . . . +a#e you e#er . . . this is stu%id 4!e pulls her even closer.

Walter

sk me.

Doleda

5A


59/72

"o you e#er think that &e could . . . or should . . .

Walter

. . . ;es. 4!e pulls her in slowly and kisses her deeply.

,* *+(3, O

("alter is sitting at his desk in his office and it obviously at night. The curtainsof his office have been drawn and he is writing furiously. !e is talking aloud.

Walter

*he freedom of the colored man7 cannot just be a notion that li#es in a document. It must

be a thing that is li#ed by the ordinary man. It is that ordinary man that tills the fields and

buys the grain. *he ordinary man7 this ordinary egro7 is the life blood of this country.

+e is the merican beast of burden. It is for merica to lighten the egros load. 4There

is a vigorous knock on the window.

Walter

!hat in the hell8 4"alter gets up and walks over to the window to see who is knocking at

his office window. )estus7 &hat are you doing out here8

Festus

s soon as I sa& it7 I kno&ed I had to sho& it to you7 Mr. "a#idson.

Walter

,alm yo self do&n and get in here out the cold. 3ho& me &hat8

Festus

*his. 4!e hands "alter a leaflet. "alter takes the leaflet and studies it.

Walter

3on of a bitch. 4"alter moves &uickly towards the door, crumples up the paper and

throws it. The stage goes black.

59


60/72

,* *+(3, *!O

("hen the house lights come up we are in "illiam ochesters room at 5s.6ancys rooming house, which "alter owns. "e hear a female and male voice

outside of the door yelling444off stage.Walter

Ms. ;ancy get out of my &ay.

Ms. Yanc

Mr. !alter I kno&s you o&ns this rooming house7 but this just ain't right. ,omin' into a

man's room this time of night.

Walter

Ms. ;ancy7 I lo#e you but you best mo#e out the &ay fo I mo#e ya. 4ochester sits up in

his bed and begins to wake. "alter enters his room.

Rochester

!hat the hell8 Mr. "a#idson8

Walter

et u% you sonofabitch.

Rochester

+uh8 !hat's7 going on8

Walter

I said get u% you sonofabitch.

Rochester

!hat are you doing in my room . . . at this time of night.

Walter

et u%.

Rochester

I certainly &ill not.

Walter!ell7 then I'll beat you out of that bed if need be.

Rochester

;ou sa& the leaflet.

Walter

@0


61/72

I sa& the %oster. 4!e grabs "illiam ochester III by his night shirt and raises him out of

the bed.

Rochester

Eust rela. Eesus.

Walter

!hy did you do it8 Eust tell me that7 !hy did you do this8 4!e pulls a poster from his

pocket and unfolds it in front of his face. !e begins to read from it. My dear colored

brethren &e like to res%ectfully re>uest that you come and attend our egro race rally at

-eterson -ark. ,ome and discuss the state of the race and ho& &e can use our collecti#e

%o&er to combat racism in all forms including unfair accommodations both %ublic and

%ri#ate.J nd here is my fa#orite %art . . . &ait for it7 &ait for it . . *his e#ent is s%onsored

by *he ational ssociation of fricani:ed mericans nd . . .Rochester

. . . Mr. "a#idson . . .

Walter

. . . &ait for it7 &ait for it . . . in association &ith . . . 4"alter points to ochester.

Rochester

*he egro *imes.

Walter

;es . . . the egro *imes . . . I could ha#e s&orn not only did I not su%%ort this rally of

yours7 I can e%ressly remember sayin that I didn't &ant anything to do &ith it. !hich is

&hy I &as truly sur%rised to see egro *imes %asted on the bottom of this infernal leaflet

of yours.

Rochester

6et me e%lain . . .

Walter

. . . *here's an e%lanation7 is there8 I'm sure this is gon be as good as one of them

mo#ing %icture sho&s. -lease by all means7 Mr. !illiam ochester III7 do e%lain.

Rochester

fter reading se#eral edition of your %a%er I just kne& you &ould su%%ort our cause. 3o I

had the leaflets %rinted before I arri#ed in to&n . . . ho& &as I to kno& that you &ould

object to our intentions8

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62/72

Walter

3o once I said no . . .

Rochester

!ell7 I couldn't just thro& a&ay the leaflets.

Walter

*his rally of yours is going to stir a hornets nest around here. *his ain't e& ;ork ,ity.

Rochester

Is not labama or eorgia either7 Mr. "a#idson.

Walter

6ook out that &indo& Mr. ochester7 Centucky is just o#er the ri#er %ast the train tracks.

Ohio might as &ell be eorgia. !hat7 you thought those southern accents you been

hearing &as for sho&8 *his is as south as the north gets7 blee#e that. I got raised in amud hole in *uscaloosa7 labama and blee#e me this %lace ain't no different7 Mister. In

some &ays it's &orse.

Rochester

I'm sorry I used the name7 but around here that name means something. Most %eo%le

could care less about the . But they kno& &hat the egro *imes is. It stands for

something around here. nd I needed some traction. I needed to ca%ture the hearts of

the %eo%le do&n here. 3o I used it. !hat does it matter7 no one kno&s &ho you are

any&ay.

Walter

;our a child7 Mr. ochester. fuckin' child. ;ou really don't ha#e a clue do ya8 ot a

damned clue. 4"alter turns and walks away.

Rochester

Mr. "a#idson7 Mr. "a#idson . . .

,* *+(3, *+

("alter is in his office and he is turning out copies of the /egro Times. Theportable press is on his desk and he is turning the handle as papers are comingout. *uddenly, $oleda bursts through the curtains.

Doleda

!alter7 &e got trouble.

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63/72

Walter

!hat is it8

Doleda

)estus just tore in here and said that they ha#ing some trouble do&n there at -eterson

-ark. Must be that race meeting e#erybody been all head u% about.

Walter

Okay7 go u% front and make sure that )estus is okay. 4*uddenly there is banging on the

back door of "alters office. "alter walks over and opens the door. A disheveled

ochester stumbles inside and immediately crashes to the ground.

Rochester

*hey tried . . . they tried

Walter. . . to kill you. s I li#e and breathe . . . no . . . I mean all you did is try to take the money

out of the hand of the richest &hite men in the to&n. I mean it is an utter shock that they

&ould send %eo%le to skin ya like a cat fish.

Rochester

I su%%ose this &ould be a %erfect time for you to tell me I told you so. 3o go right ahead.

Walter

I get not joy /bout being right. *his is just the &ay things are. "on't mo#e you might

ha#e broken you ribs.

Rochester

*here &as a man . . .

Walter

man8

Rochester

;es. man . . . a &hite man. +e &anted me to gi#e you a message.

Walter

Message /bout &hat8

Rochester

+e said that he &as sad that it had all gone to hell. nd no& . . .

Walter

. . . ;eah8

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64/72

Rochester

+e &as going to ha#e to come see about you.

Walter

#erage height7 a#erage build7 black hair7 southern accent8

Rochester

;eah. *hat's him.

William

!ho attacked ya'll8

Rochester

I don't kno& just a grou% of angry &hite men &ith sticks and bats. lot of %eo%le got

hurt.

Walter"oleda get a cold rag and come back here. nd tell )estus to come &itcha. 4$oleda and

estus enter through the green curtain.

Doleda

Oh7 my lord. 4*he runs over to the bleeding ochester and begins to dab the wet rag on

his for head.

Walter

"oleda7 this is . . .

Doleda

!illiamF

Walter

"oleda7 just ho& do you kno& this man8

Doleda

6ater7 !alter. !e &ill talk later.

!alter

;ou bes blee#e &e &ill. 41ong beat )estus7 I &ant you to run do&n to the rail yard and

get /Bama7 he should be greasin' the rails. *he @H10 is due in here in about 15 minutes so

git him u% here. )estus git no&. o 4"aves his hands imploring him to go. estus runs

out of the back door.

Doleda

!hy you calling for /Bama8

@?


65/72

Walter

/,ause if &e don't git this boy out of here they gon %lay string music &ith his neck. nd

the &ay I'm feelin' I might be the one to stretch the ro%e.

Rochester

I don't ha#e to lea#e any&here. I am an merican . . .

Walter

. . . 3hut u%7 boy. It ain't like you got a choice. !e gon %ut you on the @H10

Rochester

*he @H108

Walter

;eah7 the @H10 to e& ;ork state or as I call it the e& egro e%ress. )or %retty talkin'

high ste%%in' yella fellas like ya self. I'm gon ha#e /Bama stuff you in one of them bocars in the back and you'll be in e& ;ork by daybreak. If you lucky you &ill li#e to

incite another day. 4estus enters the back door followed by )#ama.

Bama

!hat in the hell is goin' on do&n at -eterson -ark8 I hear they do&n dare bashing niggas

by the bushel.

Walter

"on't concern yo self &it that. I need you to do me a fa#or. I need for this man here to

catch air. I need you to stash him on one of them bocars on the @H10. I &ant you to ride

&ith him and make sure he get to e& ;ork7 breathing. *his one got a knack for

angering folk.

Bama

3hit7 the @H10 on its &ay in no&. -lus7 I &as s'%osed meet Babo tonight in the rail yard

and attend to that bidnessfo ya.

Walter

"on't &orry about it7 I'll meet Babo you just make sure this one here get's out of Ohio in

one %iece.

Bama

Okay7 but the @H10 should be here any second no& . . .

Walter

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66/72

*hen don't &aste no time talkin' to me. 4"alter reaches down and grabs the arm of

ochester and guides him to his feet.

Bama

"amn dey dun messed you u%.

Walter

Eust get him out of here. o&. 4)#ama puts his arm underneath ochesters arm and

begins to support his weight.

Rochester

!hat about my things o#er at the rooming house8

Walter

!hen you get to e& ;ork send me a letter and I &ill send your things back to the

address on the en#elo%e. o& git. I'm sure there are se#eral men lookin' to make yourac>uaintance. 4)#ama and ochester walk to the back door and before they e+it,

o

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