THE RIDER OF DREAMS
Scene:Night in a room used for kitchen, dining-room and laundry by a colored family. A lamp is set upon a central table laid with a spotless table cloth. Baskets of clothes stand on several chairs. At the back is a cook-stove and to the left of this a door. There are also doorways at the right and left of the room.Lucy Sparrow, a worn, sweet-faced woman of forty, is sprinkling clothes at an ironing-board at left with her back turned to the table beside which, on a high stool, is perched a small boy,Booker Sparrow. Both the boy and the woman as well as the room show a painstaking neatness despite the disorder necessary in the process of a professional “wash.”
Lucy
Who make you?
Booker
God. Ain’t the mush done now?
Lucy
It’s done but I ain’t done wif you. You gotto learn good befo’ you can eat good. Who redeem you?
Booker
Christ. I’ll stop being hungry for it if I don’t get it now.
Lucy
Bettah lose youah wishes an’ youah ahms an’ laigs an’ everything youah body’s fix wif an’ keep youah immortal soul. Who sanctify you?
Booker
The Holy Ghost. I don’t want nothing but mush.
Lucy
Well, you ain’ goin’ to git hit twell you luhns de questions. What de chief en’ of man?
Booker
Chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy himself for ever.
Lucy
[Coming swiftly forward and confronting him with a threatening look:] Enjoyhisself! I ain’ neveh teach you dat. You know betteh’n dat. Man got no right to enjoy hisself. He got to enjoy Gawd. You knows dat as well as you knows eatin’. An’ you got to say it an’ what’smo’ you got to live it. Now what de chief en’ of man?
Booker
Enjoy God forever.
Lucy
Dat’s mo’ like it. [She turns her back and going to the ironing-board resumes her labours, still talking.] I’m raisin’ you fo’ de Kingdom an’ you’ah goin’ in de Kingdom ef pushin’ ’ll lan’ you dere. Because dis time anutheh yeah you may be in some lonesome graveyard. [Singing:]
In some lonesome graveyard,Oh, Lawd, no time to pray.
In some lonesome graveyard,Oh, Lawd, no time to pray.
In some lonesome graveyard,
Oh, Lawd, no time to pray.
[As she singsBookerstealthily slips off his stool and going around to the opposite side of the table takes a spoon with which he approaches a dish set upon a warming-shelf fixed to the stove. He furtively dips his spoon in the dish and begins to eat.Lucycontinuing her singing.]
[As she singsBookerstealthily slips off his stool and going around to the opposite side of the table takes a spoon with which he approaches a dish set upon a warming-shelf fixed to the stove. He furtively dips his spoon in the dish and begins to eat.Lucycontinuing her singing.]
Play on youah harp, little David,Little Davy, how ole are you?“I’m only twelve yeahs ole.”
Play on youah harp, little David,Little Davy, how ole are you?“I’m only twelve yeahs ole.”
Play on youah harp, little David,
Little Davy, how ole are you?
“I’m only twelve yeahs ole.”
[She turns and discoversBooker.] What! You stealin’! I’ll show you! [She gives him a cuff and a shake, depositing him again upon his stool.] You shorely is on de way to de fieh but I’m goin’ pluck you out ef it skins you alive. Steal, will you? What de sevenf commandment?
Booker
[Sniveling.] Thou shalt not steal.
Lucy
See dat. You knows it but you des won’t live hit. Well, I’m goin’ live it into you. I’m goin’ slap sin out of you. [She gives him another shake.] An’ de grace into you. Now you say dat commandment sevumty times sevun. Begin. Say hit.
Booker
Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not steal—
[The door at back opens andMadison Sparrowstands in the doorway looking on the scene within the room. He is a tall, loose-jointed, lazy-looking man. In one hand he carries a long green bag.]
[The door at back opens andMadison Sparrowstands in the doorway looking on the scene within the room. He is a tall, loose-jointed, lazy-looking man. In one hand he carries a long green bag.]
Madison
[After a survey of the situation.] What de boy do?
Lucy
He steal, dat what he do.
Madison
Um. What he steal?
Lucy
Mush. I tole him not to tech it.
Madison
Well, he was hongry, weren’t he?
Lucy
Dat ain’ de p’int. Tweren’t his till I give it to him.
Madison
[Places the bag carefully by the doorway, throws his hat upon it, then seats himself at the table.] Bring on dat mush. I’m tia’hd of dese fool doin’s. Dey ain’t no git ahead wif um. Ef de boy wants mush let him git mush.
Lucy
[Placing food before him on the table.] Yes, but not rob it.
Madison
Who talkin’ ’bout robbin’?
Lucy
Madison, dat’s de wrong kin’ of trash fo’ disbaby to heah. Go lay down, honey. Tek de bowl wif you.
[Bookerwhines but takes a dish and goes to doorway at Left.]
[Bookerwhines but takes a dish and goes to doorway at Left.]
Madison
No, hit’s de right kin’ of preachin’. I’m tia’hd of all dat ol’ fashion way of doin’. Ef I wuz to wuk my ahms off dat ol’ fashion way I couldn’t git no furder.
Lucy
What you bin wukin’ at dis yeah, Madison?
Madison
Dat’s it. You know dat I’m bin lookin’ fo’ it and couldn’t find hit.
Lucy
What you wuk at last yeah?
Madison
You knows I wuk in de strippin’ factory.
Lucy
Jes’ two weeks.
Madison
You knows I wuk till I strain my back. But neveh min’ about all dat. I done tuhn oveh anew leaf. I goin’ to be a business man. I goin’ to let de otheh man wuk.
Lucy
’Sposin’ everybody was to do dat away.
Madison
Let ’em do hit. I don’ ask nothin’ of nobody. I goin’ to have every toof in my haid covehed wif gol’. I’ll get youah’n an’ Book’s fix dat way too. I goin’ to have plenty society grub in me all de time. I ain’ goin’ to let my fam’ly suffeh. I got too sweet a disposishun fo’ dat. I’ll git ’em whateveh I want.
Booker
[Lingering in doorway.] When you get rich will you get you the guitar, Daddy?
[LucywavesBookerthrough doorway. He vanishes.]
[LucywavesBookerthrough doorway. He vanishes.]
Madison
I’ll git it an’ I got it. Watch me now. [He goes over to the bag by the door and reaching in it produces a handsome guitar.] Dat’s de beginnin’ er good times, boy.
Lucy
[With sickening apprehension.] Madison, where you git dat insterment?
Madison
Dat’s de Lawd’s insterment, Lucy. He done pervide it.
Lucy
Oh, Madison, dat ain’ youah’n.
Madison
’Tis now, honey.
Lucy
No, youah las’ dime you spent Sunday an’ I ain’ give you no money since. You got it wifout payin’ for it. You charged it.
Madison
Yassah, I got it wifout payin’ for it an’ I goin’ to keep on a-gittin’ it wifout payin’ for hit as long as de gittin’s good.
Lucy
How you like to be treat dat way?
Madison
What way?
Lucy
If you was keepin’ a store, to have folks charge things when dey didn’ know how dey could pay.
Madison
I’m willin’ fo’ to be treat dat way ef dey cando hit. Let ’em come an’ git my things if dey finds any.
Lucy
[Breaking down.] Oh, I cain’ stan’ hit. Youah sinkin’ fas’ down to de fiery lake an’ you’s pullin’ my Baby down too.
Madison
No, I’s raisin’ him up an’ I goin’ to lan’ us all in a sof’ place on dat Easy Street I heah ’em singin’ ’bout so long wifout seein’.
Lucy
[Suddenly examining the guitar.] Wheah you git dis guitar?
Madison
What guitar?
Lucy
Dis. Oh, Madison, dis is ’Zek’l Williams’ own guitar dat he wouldn’ sell. Dis is de guitar dat nobody couldn’ buy. How you come by it?
Madison
Look heah, woman. You act like Istolede guitar. You don’t think I’m a thief, do you?
Lucy
How you come by hit?
Madison
I got it off Wilson Byrd.
Lucy
Dat sneakin’ w’ite man. How’d he git it?
Madison
I didn’ ask him.
Lucy
What you give him fo’ hit?
Madison
Oh, dat’s anotheh story. Him an’ me’s goin’ in business togetheh.
Lucy
Oh, Madison, dat w’ite man stole dis guitar. Oh, take it back dis minute an’ snatch youah soul from de bu’nin’.
Madison
Who, me? What you tak me fo’, gal? Take back a guitar to de rich man, de man what own de very house we live in!
Lucy
Well, we soon will buy hit.
Madison
Dat’s right. We will. But dat ain’ de question. I didn’ git dis guitar fo’ to return it, I gitit fo’ to play it. I boun’ to play it cause I’m goin’ to be er rich man soon an’ I got to have a plenty music in me.
Lucy
You goin’ to git rich playin’ guitar?
Madison
[Laughing comfortably.] Eh, yah, yah. Whoopee! No indeedy. I flies higher dan music flies. I’m one er dese heah kine er ’lectioneerin’ mens which make dere money work fo’ um. Dey sen’s one dollah out in de heat an’ sweats her twell she rolls home wif anutheh.
Lucy
How you goin’ to put money out, Madison, lessen you wuks an’ gits de money?
Madison
[Cunningly.] Oh, don’ yo’ botheh youah haid long er dat. I bin down low and folks trample me des same as a wu’m, but now I’m goin’ spread my wings an’ sting ’em like a king bee. Whaffo’ I lay dere an’ let’m trample me? ’Twere because I lack conferdence. I puts my ’pen’ance on dis promis’, I puts my ’pen’ance on dat, an’ dey all fails me.
Lucy
You ain’t neveh put youah trus’ in Gawd.
Madison
Yassuh, I did, an’ Gawd He up an’ gimme de go-by too. What He bin doin’ fo’ me? Nuthin’. Now I goin’ spit on my han’s an’ whu’l in an’ trus’ myse’f. An’ I feels lots betteh. I can feel conferdence wukin’ all oveh me. I casts ’em all off. I’m lookin’ out fo’ myse’f. M-m-m—It took me long time to git heah but now I’m heah let ’em look out for me. [His voice rises to a chant.]
M—m—m—Midnight on de sea. All de lights out. I’m carryin’ hod on Jacob’ laddeh to build me a new house an’ I’m buildin’ it high, man. Don’ tech me. I’m a flame of fieh an’ I’ll singe you sho’. If dey asks fo’ me tell ’em say, “I saw somethin’ sailin’ up but he was headin’ fo’ a high hill on de sun an’ my eyes failed me.” Tell ’em say, “He had de fo’ win’s runnin’ like stallions to fetch up wif him but dey carried ’em out, an’ buried ’em in de valley. He bus’ dere hea’ts!” Tell ’em say, “He was herdin’ lightnin’s like sheep an’ dey wuz too slow an’ he picked ’em up an’ sheared ’em an’ sent ’em home.”
Dat’s me, I’m de one you’ll be talkin’ bout.Fer why? ’Cause I cas’ off ever’thing an’ I puts my trus’ in myself an’ nuthin’ can’t hole me. De mo’ I says it de mo’ I feels conferdence. I feels it a wukin’.
Lucy
You goin’ to wuk, Madison?
Madison
Yes, indeedy. I got to wuk an’ wuk ha’d. I can’t shirk none.
Lucy
What wuk you goin’ to do?
Madison
I’m a stock brokin’ man. I goin’ into de stock brokin’ business tomorrer.
Lucy
How?
Madison
Buyin’ an’ sellin’, dat’s how an’ which too.
Lucy
De Devil’s wrastlin’ wif you, Madison, an’ you’s perishin’ fas’. Ef you keeps on in dis paf you’ll lan’ mongs’ de rocks er mournin’. You’s let somebody tu’n you roun’.
Madison
Not me. Nobody can’t tu’n me roun’. I dreamed it an’ I dreamed it right, face fo’mos’ an’ on de run.
Lucy
How dream?
Madison
Las’ night an’ day befo’ yistiddy night an’ night befo’ dat. I wuz layin’ groanin’, “O Lawd, how long,” an’ I heah a voice say, “Git up an’ come a-runnin’.” Looks up an’ sees a fine w’ite saddle hoss. Hoss say,
“Ride me right an’ I’ll guide you right.”
“Ride me right an’ I’ll guide you right.”
“Ride me right an’ I’ll guide you right.”
On I gits an’ off he goes, slick as a rancid transom car. Comes to high hill lookin’ down on de sun an’ moon. Hoss stop an’ say,
“Brung you heah to give you noosDe worl’ is youahn to pick an’ choose.”
“Brung you heah to give you noosDe worl’ is youahn to pick an’ choose.”
“Brung you heah to give you noos
De worl’ is youahn to pick an’ choose.”
I ax him “How dat?” Hoss say:
“How is how an’ why is why,Buy low an’ sell high.”
“How is how an’ why is why,Buy low an’ sell high.”
“How is how an’ why is why,
Buy low an’ sell high.”
I say to him, “I got no money to buy. Wheah I goin’ git de fun’s to buy low?” Hoss respon’:
“Trus’ yo’se’f an’ take youah own,Git de meat an’ leave de bone,Bus’ de nut an’ fling em de shell,Ride an’ let em walk a spell,Findeh’s keepeh’s, loseh’s weepeh’s,I hope dese few lines find you well.”
“Trus’ yo’se’f an’ take youah own,Git de meat an’ leave de bone,Bus’ de nut an’ fling em de shell,Ride an’ let em walk a spell,Findeh’s keepeh’s, loseh’s weepeh’s,I hope dese few lines find you well.”
“Trus’ yo’se’f an’ take youah own,
Git de meat an’ leave de bone,
Bus’ de nut an’ fling em de shell,
Ride an’ let em walk a spell,
Findeh’s keepeh’s, loseh’s weepeh’s,
I hope dese few lines find you well.”
I ax him who tole him all dis an’ hoss say:
“Ole hossGrabwill nevah balk,All dis heah is w’ite man talk.”
“Ole hossGrabwill nevah balk,All dis heah is w’ite man talk.”
“Ole hossGrabwill nevah balk,
All dis heah is w’ite man talk.”
Dat what de hoss say to me in my true dream ev’y night dis week an’ I’m a-goin’ to bide by hit twell de las’ er pea time. ’Cause I’m er true dreameh an’ my mammy she wuz befo’ me.
Lucy
What come of de hoss in de dream, Madison?
Madison
Dat’s all. Hoss went up in smoke an’ I come down in bed.
Lucy
Hoss went up in smoke! No, hit went down in smoke an’ fiah.
Madison
Now look-a heah, woman. I’m goin’ to make you a good livin’ f’um now on. I’m goin’ into business termorrer. I’m goin’ in de specalatin’ wu’k. I’m goin’ to buy low an’ sell high.
Lucy
What kin you buy wif? You got no money.
Madison
[Hesitating but collecting his forces gradually.] Oh, ain’t I tell you ’bout dat? I got it in de dream.
Lucy
In de dream?
Madison
Um Hmmm. You know dat hoss I tole you ’bout. Well’m, jes’ fo’ we pa’ted he prance up th’ough a starry fiel’ an’ come to a gyarden fence. Oveh dat fence he lep an’, man, she was a fine gyarden. “Whose patch dish yer?” I say to him. Hoss say:
“If you asks me grab what you see.”
“If you asks me grab what you see.”
“If you asks me grab what you see.”
Den he reaches down an’ pulls up a tu’nip wif his teef an’ gives it to me an’ say,
“Dis gyarden truck will fetch you luck.”
“Dis gyarden truck will fetch you luck.”
“Dis gyarden truck will fetch you luck.”
[He watchesLucyfurtively.] An’ I takes an’ sta’ts to peel dis tu’nip an’ what does I find? I finds she’s a fine fat roll er bills, dem tu’nip tops is greenbacks.
Lucy
So youah money is dream money?
Madison
Well, no, not ezackly. De hoss whispeh sumpin in my eah an’ told me how to make dat dream money real money. An’ I took de hint an’ done it today. An’ on dat money I’ll buy low an’ gouge ’em all good.
Lucy
How much you got?
Madison
Well’m— [He hesitates.] I got a little an’ den some. I got erbout—fifty er so.
Lucy
Wheah you git it? [She catches hold of him.]
Madison
Tu’n me loose, woman. I goin’ to baid. I got to make early sta’t. [He pulls off his coat.]
Lucy
[Wildly.] I ain’ goin’ to let you stay in sin. [She snatches the coat from him.] I goin’ take dis money an’ make you say wheah you got it.
[She begins hastily searching through the pockets of the coat.]
[She begins hastily searching through the pockets of the coat.]
Madison
[Calmly regarding her with great good humour and breaking into a laugh as she fails in her search.] Eh, yah, yah, sea’ch an’ look, sea’ch an’ look.
Lucy
Oh, Madison, ain’ yo’ got no honin’ ter be hones’ at all?
Madison
Hones’! What kin’ er fool talk is dat? I done got my ear-string bus’ now an’ dem preachah wu’ds can’t fool me no mo’. You’ll neveh fin’ it, honey. ’Cause why? ’Cause I’m got it in my pants an’ I goin’ to keep it f’um a foolish woman.
Lucy
[Running to him desperately.] You got to give it to me.
Madison
Gal, ef you don’ tu’n me loose I’ll git ugly. Now, look heah. I wants to heah de las’ er dis. I got new ideahs. I got big plots en plans. I done give you de plankses in my flatfo’m an’ I’m a-goin’ to stan’ on hit. When I makes a lot mo’ money in de broker business I’m a-goin’ to give you all de gold youah ap’un’ll hold, ev’y day er youah life, an’ you won’ have to wait long.But till dat day an’ to dat time I’m de treasu’eh er dis lodge an’ I’m de stake holdeh er dis race an’ dat money stays in de pu’se in de hip er my ol’ jeanses.
[He says this last slowly and with growing emphasis and as he ends, gives himself a resounding thwack on the hip over his pocket. There is a moment’s pause. He puts his hand hurriedly in the pocket and then dazedly into one on the other hip.]
[He says this last slowly and with growing emphasis and as he ends, gives himself a resounding thwack on the hip over his pocket. There is a moment’s pause. He puts his hand hurriedly in the pocket and then dazedly into one on the other hip.]
What dis? Wheah dat roll?
Lucy
[Fearfully.] I ain’ tech it. You know I ain’ bin neah you.
Madison
[Rushing to her.] Gimme de coat.
[He snatches the coat and begins going through the pockets, from time to time searching and slapping the garments he is wearing.]
[He snatches the coat and begins going through the pockets, from time to time searching and slapping the garments he is wearing.]
Didn’t you git it? You mus’ er tuk it.
Lucy
No, Madison, I ain’ see nor tech it. You watched me.
Madison
Oh, Lawd, he’p me look.
[He begins to run around the room, looking on the table, picking up articles and letting them fall, dropping on his knees and hunting under the table and chairs. As he searches he grows more frantic.]
[He begins to run around the room, looking on the table, picking up articles and letting them fall, dropping on his knees and hunting under the table and chairs. As he searches he grows more frantic.]
Oh, my Lawd, Oh, wheah is it? I got to have it. Oh, I couldn’ lose it, hit ain’ mine ter lose. Stay by me, Lucy, an’ he’p me fin’ it, git down on youah knees, Lucy. Oh, wheah did I drop it? I’m gittin’ old an’ needs it. Ef I lose dis I lose all my push. I was jes’ goin’ into business an’ we all wuz goin’ to fly high. I got to fin’ it. I ain’ give up. Lemme think. Oh, I hopes some hones’ puhson foun’ it. Lemme come on down—Know I put it on dat side ’cause dat de side Mistah Long he wuz on—Oh, I’ll go crazy— [He strikes his forehead groaning.]
Lucy
[Starting.] Mistah Long! He’s cashiah in de Dime Savin’s! How he give you money?
Madison
Oh, lemme see—he gimme de money an’ I put it right in yere. [He fumbles again distractedly in his pocket.]
Lucy
[Pursuing him desperately.] Onliest money at de Dime Savin’s isdemoney. You couldn’t drawhitout. You didn’ do dat,—you couldn’—Tell me if you did fo’ I’ll fin’ it out tomorrer—Oh, tell me true—you couldn’ when it’s in my name—tell me now fo’ I’ll find it out.
Madison
Oh, I can’t stand it.
Lucy
Ef you wan’ me to he’p you den be free wif me. How you draw money from de Bank? I give you no papeh. Youcouldn’drawdemoney.
Madison
Wilson Byrd, he gimme de papeh.
Lucy
I give him no papeh.
Madison
He write it fo’ you.
Lucy
Oh, Gawd, dat w’ite man write my name. You drawed de money—I see it now. You had dealin’s wif a fo’geh, Wilson Byrd.
Madison
Spar’ me an’ he’p me. He tol’ me ef I draw de money he’d take me into business wif him an’ gimme de guitar besides.
Lucy
Did you spar’ me? Fifty dollahs! You said fifty, didn’ you? How could you do hit? More’n six months’ ha’d slavin’. Six months mo’ befo’ I can resto’ it back. I could a bought de house tomorrer mo’nin’ an’ now hit’s six months off to pay in dat fifty. Itwasfifty, didn’ you say? Maybe ’twuzn’ dat much. Tell me right. I’ll fin’ it out tomorrer.
Madison
Dis yere’ll kill me ef I can’t think.
Lucy
How much you draw? Tell me right. Look at me. Were hit fifty? [She holds his eye.] Less? Mo’? How much? [She continues to hold his lustreless eyes, reading them.] A hunde’d? Two hunde’d? Eight hunde’d? [A pause ensues as she reads the truth in his face.] All of hit! [She sinks in a chair.] Twelve yeahs’ labour sence I married you an’ termorrer I wuz goin’ to mek de payment an’ we’d a bin undeh owah own roof. I’m done. I could a paid off pa’t,mebbe fifty, but I won’ las’ twelve yeahs mo’ at de same thing. But I thank Thee, Lawd, dat it wuz stole f’um us all ef hit had to be stole.
Madison
Ef I could on’y think. Had hit in de bank—felt hit an’ had it on Thu’d Street—slapped hit an’ had it at Joe’s house—slapped hit an’ had it comin’ up de alley—jes’ fo’ I clum de hill—lemme see—clum de hill—went in th’oo Wilson Byrd’s hedge fence—he gimme de guitar—scrape my back comin’ out— [His face shows gradual recollection, and suddenly brightens.] I knows now! Dat’s hit! In dat white man’s yard wheah he gimme de guitar! I wuz jes’ goin’ to give him de money when somebody grabbed him f’um behin’. He give a squawk an’ skeered me. I run out th’oo his hedge fence an’ scrape my back. I scrape de pocketbook out. She’s dere! In dat Wilson Byrd’s yard. I’ll git it yit. Watch me. [He grabs his hat and runs excitedly toward the door.]
Lucy
[Rushing toward him.] No, sumpin’ might happen. You might git mix up wif him ergin. Lemme go, but I mus’ resto’ dis guitar at Uncle Williams, as I go by his house. I’ll slip it on his porch. Maybe he’ll neveh know it wuzgone. Oh, if somebody had seen it heah! How could I have stood it?
[She puts on a shawl and takes up the bag but as she lays her hand on the door-knob a loud knock is heard on the door. Both start back and wait. The knocking is repeated. She throws off the shawl, places the bag in a corner and returning to the door, opens it. She greets the visitor in a strained voice, almost with a shriek.]
[She puts on a shawl and takes up the bag but as she lays her hand on the door-knob a loud knock is heard on the door. Both start back and wait. The knocking is repeated. She throws off the shawl, places the bag in a corner and returning to the door, opens it. She greets the visitor in a strained voice, almost with a shriek.]
Uncle Williams! Step in, please.
[A man enters. The newcomer is old, with white hair and beard. He is probably of Moorish descent. He is so small and weazened as to be almost a dwarf, but his whole demeanor indicates great latent power. A strong personality, dominating the two others from the first instant.]
[A man enters. The newcomer is old, with white hair and beard. He is probably of Moorish descent. He is so small and weazened as to be almost a dwarf, but his whole demeanor indicates great latent power. A strong personality, dominating the two others from the first instant.]
Williams
Good evenin’, Lucy.
[He seems to be unaware of the presence ofMadison. He comes forward with little mincing steps and an old man’s gesture, then takes off his hat and sees about him. The others stand watching him, transfixed.]
[He seems to be unaware of the presence ofMadison. He comes forward with little mincing steps and an old man’s gesture, then takes off his hat and sees about him. The others stand watching him, transfixed.]
Ain’ you goin’ shut de do’, Lucy? I feels draf’s.I’m gittin’ old an’ catches cold easy. Ain’ you goin’ take my hat? [She reaches for it mechanically, watching him apprehensively.] No, de hat—not de stick—ol’ pu’son like me always need good stout stick er club case er havin’ faintin’ spell—sumpin’ to lean on. Now, wheah a cheer, bettah fetch me er cheer fo’ feah I might set on sumpin’ you wouldn’ choose fo’ me. [She obeys dumbly and brings a chair to him.] Set it neareh. Dat’s right. Now gimme youah shouldeh an’ ease me down. Ah— [He leans heavily on her and sinks totteringly into the chair with a great show of feebleness.] Now take a cheer yo’se’f. I ’spize to see a lady standin’ an’ me takin’ my res’, old ez I is. [She obeys, watching him with doubt and dread.] Set it dah, wheah I can see you good. [Madisonis standing up by the wall, right, gazing at him as though paralyzed with fear.] Dah now. We kin be ca’m and have a nice talk. Does you know what business I come yere fo’ tonight? [He pauses.] You does, doesn’t you?
Lucy
[Almost beside herself with nervous tension.] You—come to see—ef— [Recovering herself with a mighty effort.] Oh, yes, you come to look oveh de stove an’ see ef you like to buy hit.
Williams
[Musingly.] M-m. Well, I reckon—dat’s hit. Yes, dey tells me y’all has a wahmin’ stove to sell an’ now katydid cease, fros’ ain’ fur off, an’ I needs hit. Is dish yere de one?
Lucy
[Rising and rushing toward door at side.] No, not dat. Hit’s outside—ef you please to step out.
Williams
Well’m, I’ll take’n look her oveh. [She hastily lights a candle as he rises and totters in the wrong direction.]
Lucy
Th’oo heah, th’oo heah. De stove’s out in de woodshed. [She grasps and guides him.]
Williams
Ah—well’m. Um hm. I always gives things er good lookin’ oveh befo’ takin’ stock in ’m. You needn’ come erlong. I lived so long in dis house befo’ you wuz bawn dat I knows my way. Is de stove an easy wood eateh?
Lucy
Yes, yes.
[She gives him the candle and almost pushes him through doorway at side as she follows him out.Madison, who has watched fearfully from a dark corner, darts forward and looks after them, listening. He then runs toward the door at back but hesitates before it and turns asLucycomes swiftly in from outer room, closing the door softly.]
[She gives him the candle and almost pushes him through doorway at side as she follows him out.Madison, who has watched fearfully from a dark corner, darts forward and looks after them, listening. He then runs toward the door at back but hesitates before it and turns asLucycomes swiftly in from outer room, closing the door softly.]
Madison
What he say? Do he know?
Lucy
[Desperately seizing the bag and pressing it into his hands as she turns him again toward doorway at back.] Oh, I cain’ tell. On’y resto’ dis in case he don’ know er case he do. Now’s de one chance to be hones’.
Madison
Huh. What erbout dat eight hunderd dollah?
Lucy
I don’ know. Trus’ Gawd an’ be hones’.
Madison
Huh uh. One of us has got to go look fo’ dat money.
Lucy
One of us has got to take back de guitar.
Madison
I’m goin’ fo’ de money.
Lucy
Den I’ll take dis. [She takes up the guitar and she andMadisongo toward door at back. Then she halts.] Oh, Madison, you can do bofe. One of us has got to stay wif Uncle Williams. But take back de guitar first.
Madison
All right. I’ll go. An’ I ain’t played on dis heah but twice. [He takes the guitar from her.]
Lucy
Go now. Can you fin’ youah way to his porch in de dahk?
Madison
Will we find de money? Dat’s de p’oblem I wants de answeh fo’.
[Lucyopens door at back to go out.Madisonis at her side. Both start back.Williamsstands before them in the open doorway.]
[Lucyopens door at back to go out.Madisonis at her side. Both start back.Williamsstands before them in the open doorway.]
Lucy
[Haltingly, after a pause.] How—you like—de stove?
Williams
[Entering more vigorously than before.] Well’m,befo’ we goes any furder we betteh come neareh de real p’int an’ question. I didn’ come fo’ no stove dis night. [Madisonshrinks back into the shadows.]
Lucy
[Slowly.] Yo’—don’—wan’—
Williams
No’m. To be sho’, I might tek de stove one er dese days, but dat ain’ my erran’ now. Hit’s dis; does you know when we mek de bargum about you buyin’ dis heah house?
Lucy
Twelve yeah ago.
Williams
Gal, you dreamin’! ’Tweren’t but las’ year. ’Twere de fus’ er Octobah las’ year an’ I say I gives you de refusals fer one yeah. ’Membeh dat?
Lucy
Yassuh.
Williams
So fur so good. Now does you know what day de month dis is?
Lucy
Fus’ er Octobah.
Williams
Dat’s true as preachin’. Well’m, time’s up.
Lucy
What you mean?
Williams
I’m er man er my wuhd. Pay me de money an’ tek de house.
Lucy
Termorrer—
Williams
No. Termorrer won’ do.
Lucy
Why you push me so? Oh, please spar’ me an’ wait—wait anutheh day.
Williams
No, I’m er business man. I kin sell de house fer mo’ money termorrer but I hold’s to my wuhd ter sell it to you. I holds to it an’ loses money, but it falls due dis day an’ night an’ I won’ stretch it one jump er my hea’t.
Lucy
You know—de bank—ain’t open—
Williams
Sign de check fer hit. You kin do dat, cain’t you?
Lucy
I—s’pose—I—kin.
Williams
Den up an’ do hit. Heah’s er check, all wrote out but de signin’. [She takes the check he produces.] An’ heah’s one er dese fountum pins. [She takes the pen.] Octobeh fus’—pay to Zek’l Williams—eight hunderd dollahs. Des write “Lucy Sparrow.” [She mechanically turns to do so.] Looks easy, sho’. But de law allows hit; dis writin’ out money. [He pauses, then adds impressively.] Dat is,efyou got de money in de bank. Co’se ef de money ain’ dah an’ you writes de check fer hit de law puts you in State prism. [She stops and stares at him.] [The pen falls from her hand and the check flutters to the floor.] What de matteh? You wants de house, don’ you? [Lucy’shead sinks.] An’ you got de money, ain’ you?
Madison
Dat’s de question. [He comes forward out of the shadow.]
Williams
[Seemingly observingMadisonfor the first time during the evening.] Why, heighyo, Madison. I bin lookin’ fer you dis very evenin’. Whah you bin?
Madison
Bin home.
Williams
Sho’ly not, Madison, sho’ly not all evenin’? Has you?
Madison
Yes.
Williams
Well, ain’ dat de whu’lygig? I wuz lookin’ fer you at Pratt’s sto’ at eight o’clock an’ dey say you jes’ lef’ dah. You wuz dah, weren’t you?
Madison
No, suh.
Williams
Well, dere I am fool agin. An’ who you think done fool me?
Madison
Dunno.
Williams
Well, suh, ’tweren’t no one but— [He pauses a moment.] Wilson Byrd.
Lucy
Byrd! [Springing to her feet with the shock.]
Williams
[After watching the two a moment.] So you ain’ got de money no mo’, is you? [They are speechless before him.] I knows you ain’ ’ca’se I knows whohasgot hit.
Madison
[Involuntarily.] Who?
Williams
I has. [He observes them and then chuckles softly.] I has de money an’ de bargum’s closed, fer de goods is bin delivered an’ dey’re right in dis room in dat corner. One guitar at eight hunderd dollahs. Insterments comes higher’n what dey did once but you would have it an’ now you got it an’ everybody’s fixed.
Madison
[Groaning and bending over the table.] Oh!
Williams
Yassuh, de man what buys guitars at dat price su’tinly plays on de golden strings. Eight hunderd fer one guitar makes ’m mighty near twenty thousand dollehs er dozen. De cos’er livin’ is shore gone up but ef you mus’ you mus’.
Madison
Oh!
Williams
Well, I cain’ stay heah, I got er be amblin’ on. I much erblige ter you to mek youah plans to move out er heah fo’ I got ter sell de house befo’ sundown. Well, so long, an’ I hopes you gits all de good er youah high price music. [He turns again with his feeble old man’s step toward the doorway, putting on his hat.] I wish y’all good evenin’.
Madison
[Moving toward him with the threatening determination of despair.] Say, I’ve got to have dat money. I sees red. I’m gone bad an’ I’ll kill befo’ I’ll lose hit.