Splendor Among The Ruins

SCENE OPENS ON A SMALL GATHERING AT A BURIAL GROUND.  A STOUT, HANDSOME WOMAN WEEPS SILENTLY AS THE COFFIN IS LOWERED INTO THE GROUND.  THE PREACHER RENDERS HIS FINAL BLESSING BEFORE TURNING HIS ATTENTION UPON THE WIDOW.

 

REVEREND

(pats her hand)  Your husband is with God now, Theresa.  He's with God.  (smiles sympathetically)  Your husband wanted you to bring up your child in the church, where she can be close to God. 

 

(The preacher leads Theresa away but she must stop for one last look.  She removes her white scarf and leaves the imprint of cherry-red lips before tossing it onto her husband's coffin.  The reflections of sunlight glitters on the shiny new coffin and she turns away, her eyes stinging with tears.

 

REVEREND

It's time to go now.

 

THERESA

I am ready.  Somehow, I feel consoled.  As if I knew his soul is finally at peace.

 

REVEREND

Are you alright?  

 

THERESA

I am at peace, Reverend. I have seen the light.

 

REVEREND

I asked my brother-in-law to sneak the boss' wagon out.  He's going to give us a ride home.  You're welcome at our home, if you like.  I'd feel better knowing that you and D'Silla weren't alone at a time like this.

 

THERESA

No, thank you kindly, Reverend, but I must go home and tend to my work.

 

(AS THEY ARRIVE AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE GOOD REVEREND'S HOME, YOUNG D'SILLA WAITS PATIENTLY ON THE BALCONY FOR HER MOTHER'S RETURN.  THEY BID GOODNIGHT TO THE REVEREND AND HIS FAMILY AND THERESA AND HER DAUGHTER WALK THE REMAINING TWO BLOCKS TO THE LITTLE SHACK THEY CALLED HOME, STOPPING AT THE DRUGSTORE TO PICK UP A TIN OF HAIR GREASE FROM THE WOMAN SHE WORKED FOR.  

 

WOMAN BEHIND COUNTER

(approaching Theresa with compassion)  My deepest condolences Theresa.

 

THERESA

Thank you, Mrs. Gerber.

 

MRS. GERBER

Is there anything I can get you?

 

THERESA

I'll be fine, thank you.  (attempts to pay for her purchase, but Mrs. Gerber refuses to accept)

 

MRS. GERBER

Please, it's the least I can do.

 

(AT HOME, THERESA PREPARES D'SILLA SUPPER AND SETTLES IN FOR A LONG NIGHT'S WORK, MIXING CONCOCTIONS AND BREWING THEM IN A POT OVER THE FIRE)

 

(LATER THAT EVENING)

 

D’SILLA

When is Papa coming home, Mama?  (picks up her glass of milk but does not drink)

 

THERESA

Drink your milk, baby.  Your Papa is gone to the Lord.

 

D’SILLA

Why is he gone to the Lord now?  He knows I'll be five years old tomorrow.  Doesn't he want to come to my birthday party?

 

THERESA

You'll still have your birthday party tomorrow.  And your father will be there.  Only like God, you won't be able to see him.  He is one of God's angels now.

 

D’ SILLA

Why did God make Papa an angel?

 

THERESA

If God thinks the time is right and you've done enough time on earth he calls you up to join him in his work.

 

D’ SILLA

Is he going to call us soon?  Then we could be with Papa.

 

THERESA

He doesn't call on everyone.  Sometimes He wants some of us to stay here and take care of things - do His earthly work.  

(Theresa remembers her husband chopping wood on a hot summer's day.  She approaches with lemonade and a cool, damp cloth.)

 

CLEAVLAND WATSON

(smiling)  You a God-sent on this scorch of a day, Theresa.  This heat mus' be sent by the devil his self!  (accepts the lemonade and drinks hastily as she cools his forehead with the damp cloth.)  Keep on treating me like this and I'm gonna' live forever. 

 

(D'Silla tugs on her mother's apron)

 

THERESA

(shaking herself back to the present)  Alright, sweetheart, it's time to sleep.  (she leads her daughter to the little bedroom, tucks her away in bed and kisses her)  Be a good girl and go to sleep now.

 

(Theresa makes her way into her kitchen and resumes working on her potions.  After repeated attempts at various combinations, she finally gets the desired effect when she tests it on her hair.  Smiling to herself, content with her effort, she calls it a night and looks at the picture of her husband before going to sleep.)

 

(THAT NIGHT, THERESA'S DREAMS REVOLVE AROUND THE SUCCESS OF HER NEW FOUND FORMULA.  SHE BEGAN USING HOT COMBS WITH HER PRODUCT AND STYLING EVERYBODY'S HAIR.) 

THE NEXT DAY

 

FOR D'SILLA'S FIFTH BIRTHDAY, A PARTY IS HELD IN HER HONOR AND THERESA SEES THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST HER FORMULA ON THE YOUNG GIRLS IN ATTENDANCE.  SHE BEGINS BY APPLYING HER FORMULA DIRECTLY TO THE HAIR AND JUST LIKE IN HER DREAM, SHE USED A HOT COMB TO STYLE AND TRANSFORM THE MATTED LITTLE HEADS INTO SMART, MANAGEABLE HAIR DO'S.  LATER ON IN THE EVENING, AFTER THE LITTLE GIRLS HAD ALL GONE HOME, THEIR MOTHERS CAME HURRYING OVER TO THERESA WATSON'S IN HOPES THAT SHE COULD DO THE SAME FOR THEM.)

 

A FEW DAYS LATER

 

THERESA IS RINGING THE DOOR BELL AT A LUXURIOUS MANSION; THE BUTLER COMES TO THE DOOR

 

BUTLER

(looking at her with disdain)  Deliveries in the back.  

 

THERESA

I am not here to deliver anything.  I am here to see Matty Miller.

 

BUTLER

What would you have to do with anyone in this house?

 

THERESA

Matty Miller is my friend.

 

BUTLER

What color are you?

 

THERESA

Is there something wrong with your sight, Sir?  Because if there is, then I will excuse your question.

 

BUTLER

It's not my sight that's in question, here, it's your nerve! Coming to the front door of a white person's residence.

 

(a young woman comes to the door) 

 

YOUNG WOMAN

What's going on, Alfred?

 

BUTLER

Nothing, Miss Stella.  I was just informing this woman that people like her are to call by the rear.

 

STELLA

(angrily)  I will decide who comes in here, not you.  (looks at him sternly)  Do you understand?

 

BUTLER

(nods)  Yes, Miss Stella.

 

STELLA

(To Theresa)  Can I  help you?

 

THERESA

I come to see my friend, Matty Miller.  (pause)  You see, I had a dream last night and I want to tell my dream to an artist so he can draw what I saw in my dream.  I guess I really came to ask her to ask you if you could do it for me.  She always says what a great artist you are and that's what brung me here - to see you, Miss.

 

STELLA

What is your name?