GRANNY MAUMEE

Scene:Living room in an old cabin with walls blackened by age. Red cotton curtains and red covers on the chairs and table. In left corner back, an open fire smoulders in a great rough fireplace. There is a door at back leading out of doors. There are also doors left and right. A bed at left covered with a white counterpane. The room is neat and there are many growing flowers about potted in rude wooden boxes. Toward the right is an iron flower stand consisting of a basin mounted on a tripod. This stand is filled with a mass of bright red geraniums. A large chest against the wall at right is covered with red. A table near centre bears candles. Beside the table in a high-backed chair sitsGranny Maumee. She is seen to be blind. She is black and thin, with white hair and a face so seared by burns that it masks her great age. Her great granddaughterPearl, a girl of nineteen, is moving briskly about the room straightening chairs and rearranging flowers.

Pearl

Seem kinder funny fer me to be fixin’ up for Sapphie. Seem like I’m wukin’ for her by the day. Mebbe she will tek’n hiah me now she’s married. Seem kinder odd to be hiahed by a blood sisteh.

Granny

Spread my fine-spun sheets on de baid.

Pearl

I got the nex’ bes’.

Granny

Fol’ um up an’ git out de fines’.

Pearl

Hit weahs um out so to wash um, an’ Sapphie an’ that man of her’n aint used to such goodness. An’ to muss um up des for one night!

Granny

Hit’s de night er all nights. Hit’s de boy babe wif ’em dat I wants de fineness fer.

Pearl

That’s right, the baby. I keeps fohgittin’ hit. I’ll change’m. I’ll git the linum sheets on an’ then I’ll lay the big covehled.

[She draws coverlid off, hauls box from under the bed, and opening it takes out bed clothes and remakes the bed.]

You’n me’ll have to lay in the broke baid this night. You won’t git no rest.

Granny

No matteh, heah’s a good baid fer de babe an’ I’ll soon git all my res’.

Pearl

I hope’s Sapphie’s husband aint too hefty, for the th’ee might break this heah’n same as the otheh’n is broke.

Granny

De husban’ shain’t sleep da nohow. You c’n lay him a bunk in de wash house.

Pearl

What! You aint goin’ to leave him lay heah?

Granny

Dis baid my Sam bought fo’ me. Onliest man kin eveh lay in hit shill be Sam’s own blood. De babe an’ his motheh’ll lay heah dis night erlone.

Pearl

Well, the babe’ll have plenty room and softness.

Granny

W’en my Sam wuz er babe we laid on cotton sack. We didn’ have no baid, an’ w’en he little shaveh he say, “Mammy, I goin’ git you nice baid w’en I git er man.” An’ sho’ nuff, w’en he grow up he took ’n do hit, an’ he mek pu’chus in de attehnoon an’ de baid come nex’ day. But at midnight betwix’ dee tuk ’n bu’nt ’im.

Pearl

Now, Granny—

Granny

In de black dahk dee come on ’im, de bloody-handed mens, an’ wheah dee cotch ’im dah dee bu’nt ’im, de right man settin’ de wrong man afieh at de i’un hitchin’ pos’.

Pearl

[Going to her.] Granny Maumee, don’t leave yo’self go that away. Don’t leave youah mine run on.

Granny

[Rocking back and forth.] My Sam, my man babe-um.

Pearl

Hit git you all wuk up an’ wore out. You won’t look good to company.

Granny

Look! Has I looked fo’ fifty yeah sence I rush in de fieh fo’ my Sam, which hit de las’ sight deze eyes seen? Oh, whuffo’ dee drag me out an’ hilt me back? I bo’ one man an’ him dee tuk’n bu’nt. An’ ’e slep’ right’n dis room w’en de man wuz shot w’ich dee ’cuze ’im er! Whuffo’ dee drag me back f’um de fieh?

Pearl

I sees the wisdom of Gawd in hit, Granny Maumee. Fifty yeahs ergo me and Sapphie’s granpap been burnt and yet you was to live to git a new Sam.

Granny

W’ich ’e neveh come. Dee wuz all gals fum dat on, you an’ yo’ sisteh Sapphie an’ yo’ mammy an’ yo’ mammy’s mammy, all down from my breas’: all gals.

Pearl

You fuhgits what Sapphie’s fetchin’ you.

Granny

Dat I don’t, but not twell I sees ’im will Sam be cool off in my heaht.

Pearl

Granny, you can nurse the child but course you cain’t espect to see him.

Granny

Deze eyes shill yit behole—

Pearl

No, Granny Maumee, your eyes they’re scorched and swiveled with the fire. But your arms ain’t burnt, is they? An’ they shall hold the baby! Tain’t often old person live to heft a great-great-gran’baby.

Granny

Befo’ my las’ houah deze eyes shill look an’ see ergin. [She rises.]

Pearl

Wheah you goin’?

Granny

Has you lay out my raid gown?

Pearl

Yes, it’s all on the sofy.

Granny

Den I goes to primp up an’ mek ready to receive.

Pearl

Yes, it’s only perlite to put on ouah best to meet the husband.

Granny

I dresses fer none but de chile. [She goes slowly out at left.]

Pearl

[Calling.] Betteh lay down fust, they won’t be here for two hour yet. I’ll be there pres’n’ly.

[She continues to bestir herself about the room and then starts to followGranny. There is a faint tap at the door at right.Pearlstops and listens. The tapping is repeated. She goes and opens the door. A young woman, looking much likePearland of about the same age, but gaudily dressed and carrying a baby, stands in the doorway.]

Pearl

[With a half-smothered exclamation.] Sapphie!

[Sapphiemotions her to be silent and softly, fearfully enters the room.]

Sapphie

[In a low voice.] Wheah Granny Maumee?

Pearl

She in the baid-room fixin’ up. Wheah’s youah husband?

Sapphie

[After a pause.] He—didn’—come—

Pearl

Oh, that’s too bad, but it’s good to see you, and let’s see the baby.

Sapphie

[Drawing back with the swathed and veiled child.] Not yet.

Pearl

Oh, he’s asleep, of course.

Sapphie

[Pointing to doorway through whichGrannypassed.] Shut the door.

Pearl

[Obeying wonderingly.] Well, hit do look good to see you ergin, Sapphie. Hit don’t seem like er yeah now sence you lef’ home. Does youah husband tek you to pictuh shows?

Sapphie

Puhl, what’s Granny Maumee like now, is she failed any? Is she fie’ce as eveh ’bout the burnin’ and the w’ite mens?

Pearl

Why, of course she is. She don’t neveh change f’um year ter year. Come on, let’s see baby. What youah husband’s name? You nevah sent us wu’d what youah new name was.

Sapphie

That’s what I want to see you for before Granny Maumee comes out. Come here. [She lifts a veil from the child’s face.]

Pearl

[Peering eagerly forward and then starting back.] W’ite!

Sapphie

[Breathlessly.] How’ll she take hit? What’ll she do? I’m scared of her.

Pearl

A light-head merlatter! So youah husband didn’t come ’cause they ain’t no husband. Who’s the man?

Sapphie

You know wheah I work.

Pearl

Lightfoot!

Sapphie

He des would have his way.

Pearl

So, he took you off to town with him, did he, and that’s how come you have the luck to go. I praise King Jesus he kept me f’um such luck.

Sapphie

How’ll she take hit?

Pearl

Take hit! Does you spose we can take’n tell her? Thank my Makeh she’s blind. It’s the mussy of Gawd her eyes was swiveled in w’ite man’s fire before she see the w’ite man mix with her blood. You—

Sapphie

Oh, I don’t care what you calls me if you’ll only help me and keep Granny Maumee off’n me and baby.

Pearl

It’s only helpin’ to keep us all from ’struction that I’ll keep it from her.

Sapphie

What you think she’d do if she found out?

Pearl

I don’t know. Sometimes when her mine runs on ’bout the burnin’ she begins to go back’ards.

Sapphie

[Fearfully.] What you mean?

Pearl

You knows what I means. Away from the love of Gawd, back to that Affykin devil stuff.

Sapphie

[Starting with a cry toward the door at back.] Oh, she might witch me and the baby too.

Pearl

Don’t be scared. She won’t tech you ’cause she won’t know the sinneh you been.

Sapphie

He des would have his way. [A tap is heard outsideGranny’sdoor.]

Pearl

She’s comin’.

[Sapphieshrinks back toward opposite side of room as door opens andGrannyenters wearing a red dress with red apron and red silk cap on her head. She pauses just inside and listens intently.]

Granny

Who bin talkin’?

Pearl

Me. [She guidesGrannyto her chair.]

Granny

Well, talk on. How I look? [She straightens proudly in her chair.]

Pearl

Good. The red ain’t faded none.

Granny

Dat’s good, fer I needs hit bright dis day an’ night. De babe’ll wan’ tuh see hit. Red’s de fus’ coloh er baby notice an’ red allers goes wif black. Red neveh go wif w’ite. Looks ghas’ly. I use allers tuh wrop my Sam in red— [She pauses and her voice grows shriller.] an’ red’s de las’ way I seen ’im.

Pearl

Now, Granny—

Granny

Dat’s right, I mus’ tek my mine off er dat sight now. But I’ll tek’n’ wrop dis noo black babe in my red ap’un dat hilt my Sam. In red he shill be wrop an’ black he shill shine. Royal black we is an’ royal black we shill stay. Praise my Makeh, dey ain’ no drop er any yutheh coloh in ’im. All us wimens wuz hones’, all de way down, an’ we kep’ clean er de w’ite streak. We kep’ us clean, praise my King, an’ we will ter de een’. W’ite blood were ’stroyin’ angel tuh my fambly f’um de beginnin’s, but hit neveh yit mix wif us. We wuz save f’um dat las’ pizen.

[Sapphieturns as though to go out through the door at right with her child.Pearlmotions her through side doorway at left. She goes out softly.]

Pearl

Hattie Lee she uz hones’ an’ her baby’s w’ite. That w’ite man tuk’n marry her with preacheh.

Granny

Married wif preacheh! Do dat change de trashy blood? I wudn’ have dat kinder mud pumpin’ in er babe er my blood, not ef de sevumty eldehs had j’ined a w’ite man tuh you er Sapphie.

Pearl

W’ite blood no wus’n black blood.

Granny

’Tis fer us! ’Tis fer dis house er sorrer. Hit’s bin fieh, hit’s bin death, hit’s bin de crawlin’ stream er hell fer me an’ my fambly as fur as I knows, an’ dat’s a hunderd yeah. But I lets all de yutheh go, ’ca’se I hates um ernuff fer dis one thing—

[She goes to red-covered chest at right, lifts the lid and takes out two half-charred sticks of wood.]

Pearl

Now, Granny, put um back—

Granny

[Waving the sticks.] Deze, w’ut I snatch f’um de fieh undeh Sam. Deze is ernuff to mek us hate all er dat blood an’ keep hit fur f’um us.

Pearl

[Going to her and taking the sticks.] Is this heah makin’ ready for comp’ny? Now ca’m yo’se’f.

[She lays the sticks on top of the chest.]

Granny

[Seating herself and growing suddenly very still as though listening.] Yo’re right. Time’s up, de houah is heah an’ de chile is neah. I feels hit. Run an’ open de do’. Sapphie mus’ be comin’ up de paf. Mek ready. I feel my noo man chile neah me.

[Pearlgoes out doorway at left. After a moment she andSapphieenter without the baby.Grannystands up.]

Sapphie

[Going forward hesitatingly toGranny.] Granny Maumee.

Granny

Give ’im heah in deze ahms.

Sapphie

I lay him in yutheh room. I want to see you.

Granny

Fetch ’im.

Sapphie

Aint you glad to have me back?

Granny

Fetch de babe, be swif! [Pearlmotions to Sapphie; she goes out to get the baby.]

Pearl

Her man, he couldn’t come with her.

Granny

No diffunce. I bless de man an’ wish ’im well, he’s su’ved his puhpose, but he ain’ none er ouah blood. De boy babe’s de chief un. [Sapphieenters with the baby.] Give ’im heah, be swif’.

[Sapphiehesitatingly lays the child inGranny’soutstretched arms. As she does so a strange reaction, like an electrical shock, seems to overtake the old woman. She holds out the child as though she would give it back. After a moment, however, she presses it to her breast, rocking back and forth and crooning to it.]

Babe, man babe-um, er noo man, er puore-blood man raise’ up atter all dem gals. Sam kin res’ now. ’Caze w’y— [She begins to chant.] ’caze er noo man bin raise up an’ he shill lay hol’ er de stahs an’ th’ow um down fer vingince. He shill be er ’stroyin’ fieh er heavum tuh roll ergin de hell fieh w’ut dey lit fer Sam an’ quinch hit out fuheveh. De wrath er Gawd shill be wif ’im an’ de w’ite blood shill puhvail no more ergin ’im. De sun an’ moon shill rise no mo’ on my house an’ fin’ on’y gals, ’caze we got er puore-blood man fer to gyard an’ carry us on.

[From time to time during her words she has paused and bent intently over the baby, striving to see it.]

An’ my King’ll not keep de cuss on me now an’ leave me go down to de grave wifouten sight er you, my babe-um. Dese eyes shill yit behole. [She rises with the child in her arms.] Go on out er heah, Puhl an’ Sapphie, lemme be alone now wif my babe. [She waves them out imperiously.]

Pearl

Whuffo’?

Granny

I wan’s ter see dis chile befo’ I dies.

Pearl

Why, Granny Maumee, your eyes is swiveled up with the fire. You couldn’t see.

Granny

Go. I won’ be long.

Pearl

[ToSapphie.] Come on, don’t cross her.

Sapphie

[Whispering.] I’m ’fraid—

Pearl

You know she couldn’t—— [They go out doorway at left.]

[Grannystands staring down at the child in her arms for some time. She then goes over to the bed and lays the child upon it, bending over it and striving to see. At last she turns, goes swiftly over to the red-covered chest and taking from its top the two charred sticks, turns, lights them at the fireplace, comes forward to the middle of the room and holding the flaming faggots before her face peers steadily at them.]

Granny

[Suddenly in a loud voice with upraised face.] Sam—ask Gawd tuh give back my sight dis night er all nights an’ leave me look at de nooman w’ut bin handed down ter us. Fer we kep’ de blood puore. Ask an’ we shill receive— [In a still louder tone, stretching upward her hands.] Lawd, I believe.

[She suddenly sways, turns, drops the sticks on the hearth, puts her hands before her eyes and staggers forward. After a moment she takes her hands from her face and looks tremblingly about.]

Yes—he give hit back—I sees—Oh, my black babe!

[She moves swiftly to the bed and bends over the child. There is a moment’s pause.]

W’ut dis? Cain’ I see yit? De wrong coloh.

[She turns swiftly, seizes a white cloth from a chair and a black one from another, holds them up and looks at them alternately.]

W’ite—black.

[Then turning to the bed she stares again at the child. After a moment she straightens and reaching her hands upward she gives a cry.]

W’ite! Debbils!

[SapphieandPearlappear in doorway.Grannybends over the child with clawlike fingers raised as though she were about to strangle it.Sapphiedarts forward andsnatches the child.Grannyturns and looks atSapphieandPearlin turn.]

Pearl

She sees!

Sapphie

Granny Maumee, the babe’ll be ouah’n an’ we can raise him right. He’s a good baby and don’t cry none. I don’t want live’n town. I want to live here with you and Puhl. Baby’ll love you. And we won’t be no trouble to keep ’caze I got money. Look—take this.

[She draws from her bosom a crumpled handful of bills which she stuffs intoGranny’shands.]

Granny

Wheah you git dis? [She stands immovably staring before her.]

Sapphie

Hegive it to me.

Granny

[Shaking off the money onto the table.] W’ite man money.

Sapphie

He des would have his way, but he’s good to me and he takes care of me. He’s comin’ heah tonight to see me.

Granny

W’ut de name?

Sapphie

Young Lightfoot.

Granny

De gran’pap er dat man tetch off de fieh w’ut bu’n up my Sam.

Sapphie

But this’n ain’t that away, Granny Maumee. He’s always kind.

Granny

W’en’s de man comin’?

Sapphie

He’ll be here soon and if you’ll only listen he’ll sure talk you round.

Granny

[Pointing to the baby.] Hit wants out. Take it out an’ come yer.

[Sapphieobeys, going through doorway at left.Grannysuddenly turns to the flower-basin mounted on a tripod. Seizing it she empties both flowers and earth in the fireplace, where she refills the basin with live coals. Then bringing it forward she replaces it upon its tripod.]

Pearl

Granny Maumee, you’re slippin’ backwuds, please don’t fuss with that conju’n foolishness, they ain’t nuthin’ into hit an’ hit des keeps you ’cited.

Granny

Debbils calls out debbils.

[She goes to several places where upon the walls are hung bunches of dried herbs. From several of these she seizes handfuls.]

Come, my seedin’ Jimson, come, ole Rattlesnake-Marsteh, come, my Black-Ball, w’ut Pap Jack han’ me up.

[Sapphiereënters the room and stands watchingGrannyin terror,Grannycloses all the doors to the room, then going to the red-covered chest on the right and opening it she drags forth several coils of blackened iron chain which she casts upon the table. She sprinkles a few of her handful of herbs on the fire in the brazier. A dense smoke arises.]

Sapphie

[With a scream.] Don’t! Oh, don’t conjuh me.

Pearl

[Scornfully.] Don’t fuss, Sapphie, she won’t do no harm. What the chains for, Granny?

Granny

Dem’s de chains w’ut bine Sam w’en dey tuk’n bu’n ’im.

Pearl

What you worry yourself by gittin’ um out for?

Granny

I ain’ worried no mo’. [She throws more herbs on the fire in the brazier.] Dem chains fer de w’ite man.

Pearl

What you mean?

Granny

[Pointing to the door at left back.] W’en de w’ite man knock de do’ shill be open an’ dat shill be de beginnin’ er his trials.

Pearl

What you mean?

Granny

De smoke in dis room will strankle de man’s will in his breas’ an’ I’ll use ’im den as I choose.

Sapphie

What you goin’ do to ’im?

Granny

I goin’ lead ’im out tuh de i’un hitchin’ pos’ w’ut dey fas’en Sam ter an’ I goin’ tuh chain’im da wif dese chains an’ I goin’ tuh bring ’im tuh ’imself an’ den I goin’ tuh bu’n ’im lak he gran’pappy bu’n Sam.

Sapphie

[With a scream.] You shan’t.

Pearl

You spose we leave you do hit?

[The girls start forward toward the doorway at left back. As they nearGrannyshe swiftly seizes a handful of burning herbs from the brazier and waves them smoking across the faces of the girls under their nostrils, so that they breathe the fumes. They take a few steps farther, staggering, and then stand motionless and silent. She takes them by the hands and leads them back. The fumes of stramonium, solanum and other herbs have produced catalepsia.Grannygoes to the fireplace at back and from the mantel takes a wooden bowl, a short stick and a large dry gourd. She returns, gives the bowl and stick toSapphie, causing her to beat rhythmically on the inverted bowl with the stick, a motion whichSapphiecontinues in imitative hypnosis.Grannygives the gourd toPearl, causing her to shake it. The gourd gives forth a dry rattle from seeds or pebbles within it.Grannythen places the two girls on either side of the tripod and they continue their drumming and rattling rhythmically. She then takes her place back of the tripod and casts more herbs upon the fire.]

Granny

Sistehs, kin yo’ heah me speak? Answeh, Sapphie.

Sapphie

[In a dull tone.] Yes.

Granny

Answeh, Puhl. Does yo’ heah me?

Pearl

[Also dully.] Yes.

Granny

Does yo’ see?

Both Girls

Yes.

Granny

Den watch me mek my w’ite man Lightfoot outer Lightfoot money.

[She seizes the bunch of bills from the table and plucking strands of hair from her head she begins tying the money together; taking the candle from the table she holds it over the tripoduntil it is soft and then kneads it with the money until the whole grows into the rude semblance of a human figure. Stooping then to the hearth she takes up the two charred sticks of her son’s pyre and with one of these she stabs the wax mannikin through the breast. Holding up the impaled figure she stands over her tripod and again speaks:]

Say dis atter me:—

By de fieh at night, by de black boy down,

The Sisters

“By the fire at night, by the black boy down,”

Granny

By de skunt-off face an’ de red on de groun’,

[The sisters repeat each line after her in unison, keeping up their rhythm with drum and rattle.]

By de w’ip an’ de rope an’ de chain dat swung,By de bloody mouf an’ de bit-off tongue,By de eat-up heaht an’ de spit-out gall,We scream, we beg, we whoop, we squallTuh git poweh, tuh git stren’th tuh put de trickon um all.

By de w’ip an’ de rope an’ de chain dat swung,

By de bloody mouf an’ de bit-off tongue,

By de eat-up heaht an’ de spit-out gall,

We scream, we beg, we whoop, we squall

Tuh git poweh, tuh git stren’th tuh put de trickon um all.

[After this the remainder ofGranny’scurse is spoken by her alone. The sisters continue their sounds with the drum and rattle.]

Let um git no res’ in bed, er good at vittals, er hope at wu’k, er he’p at home, er peace wif fren’s er kin, er tryin’ tuh tek pleasuah, er in any place dey kin go er hide.

Th’ee fingeh Jack my Obi pap,He’p me, ole Marsteh.Keep de promise wif um all.

Th’ee fingeh Jack my Obi pap,

He’p me, ole Marsteh.

Keep de promise wif um all.

[She lifts the mannikin on the stick and looks at it.]

Now, my Lightfoot, yore tu’n’s come.Dis is Lightfoot, Ole Marsteh.

Now, my Lightfoot, yore tu’n’s come.

Dis is Lightfoot, Ole Marsteh.

Let me slit ’im an’ bu’n ’im an’ was’e ’im an’ cut ’im an’ choke an’ weah ’im an’ teah ’im as Sam ’uz slit an’ choked an’ bu’nt an’ was’e an’ cut an’ woah an’ toah.

[She waves the mannikin to the four points of the compass.]

Fo’ times fo’ times fo’ times fo’,Fly an’ call an’ open de do’.

Fo’ times fo’ times fo’ times fo’,

Fly an’ call an’ open de do’.

De chains is ready, de man is neah, an’ almos’ heah an’ de chahm shill hol’.

Spile ’im as I spile ’im.

[She casts the mannikin and the sticks with ferocity into the fire on the tripod and then bends down staring intently into the fire.There is a moment’s silence and then she gives a cry, as she looks into the fire.]

Sam! Is dat you in da? You instid er he? W’ut dis? Is we bin trick? ’Tain’t you—’tis you—Sam! Ah-h!

[With a cry she snatches the blazing mannikin from the brazier and folds it in her caught-up apron, staggering and beating the air as though battling with unseen forces. Suddenly a gust of wind blows open the door at the right and a breeze fills the room, blowing the smoke and fluttering the garments of the women. The drum and rattle cease and fall to the floor. ImmediatelyGrannyraises her face in awe, seeing a vision. She stretches out her arms toward it, speaking brokenly.]

Sam! Yes, I sees yo’. I heahs yo’. Yes, my Babe-um.—Talk on.—Tell me.—W’at!

[She pauses, listening intently, with eyes fixed on the unseen.]

Leave ’im go!—Oh, how kin I?—Gi’ me stren’th.

[She pauses again and bows her head. After a moment she again raises her face to the vision.]

I knows.—I fuhgot. I’ll do hit.—I des wen’ backerds but I’m wif yo’ now.—Yas—Ez wefuhgives uthehs—yas—I knows—we’ll do hit.—We will be tuhgetheh.—Ez we fuhgives uthehs.

[A knocking is heard on the door back, at left of the fireplace.Grannyturns her head and listens. After a pause the knocking begins again more imperatively. She turns, seizes the tripod brazier, casts it into the fireplace, and staggers toward the door, taking her stand beside it. The knocking pauses.]

Go back, w’ite man. Roll back, w’ite wave er de fiery lek. Once you lit de fieh an’ bu’n me. Once you po’ de blood an’ pizen me, but dis time Sam an’ me we’s de stronges’ an’ we leaves you go, we leaves you live tuh mek yore peace wif Gawd. We’re puore bloods heah, royal black—all but one an’ we’ll do de bes’ we kin erbout ’im. He shill be name Sam. Go back, w’ite man, an’ sin no mo’.

[She pauses and listens. There is no further sound from without.Grannystaggers over to the sisters and shakes them, saying in a faint voice:]

Wake up, Sapphie; come tuh, Puhl. [As she does so she looks upward again and cries out:] Sam, we done hit, an’ we stays tuhgetheh!

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