Splendor Among The Ruins

MORGAN

How do you know they do these things if they were never in your cinema, Mr. Mars?

 

MARS

I know how they behave in their churches.  I don't want them doing that in my place.

 

MORGAN

Mr. Mars, that is not the way America works.  Everyone is equal under the Constitution and you are breaking the law by denying decent, hard working Americans the right to relaxation and entertainment.  (turns to the bench)  Your Honor, America stands for freedom, justice and liberty for all.  (pause)  Strike this injustice from our society and let all men enjoy the fruits of our world.  

 

(The blacks in attendance applaud Grant Morgan)

 

 

SCENE RETURNS TO PARIS.  D'SILLA IS OUT WITH ONE OF HER SCHOOL FRIENDS, ANTIQUE DESROUGES, AND HER FAMILY.   THE SCENE PICKS UP ON AN ORCHESTRA PLAYING THE MUSIC OF COMPOSER, JOHAN SEBASTIAN STRAUSS.  THE DESROUGES FAMILY, ALONG WITH D'SILLA ARE CAPTIVATED BY THE SOUND.  AS THE MUSIC COMES TO AN END, CHARLES DESROUGES CLAPS ENTHUSIASTICALLY BUT HIS EYES ARE FIXED ON HIS SISTER'S FRIEND.  ANTIQUE NUDGES D'SILLA TO LET HER KNOW THAT SHE HAD AN ADMIRER

 

MEANWHILE IN THE UNITED STATES, MADAM WATSON AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY CELEBRATE THE VICTORY THEY WON WITH THE HELP OF HER ATTORNEYS AND GRANT MORGAN.  SCENE PICKS UP ON A HOARD OF NEWSMEN AROUND MADAM WATSON

 

NEWSMAN

How do you feel now. Madam Watson?

 

MADAM WATSON

Like an American.   I feel that there is hope, not only for my people, but for everyone through our justice system.

 

SCENE OPENS ON WILLET AND SEVERAL OF HIS MEN, SURROUNDING A HOUSE WHERE A WIDOWED WHITE WOMAN HAS TAKEN A BLACK MAN AS HER LOVER

 

WILLET

We don't touch the woman, it ain't her fault.  We are after that rapist, Johnson - he likes every white woman he sees!  Well, his time on earth is up, it's back to jungle heaven for him, uh' boys?  (they laugh)

 

(They creep up around the sides of the house and peer into the window.  The couple are having a meal, laughing and drinking wine)

 

WILLET

(disturbed)  Look at him!  He's having his last meal and he doesn't even know!  He'll be swinging from that tree.  Make sure you keep your mask on.  I don't want to have to kill that woman. She is already dead - no white man would want her now that Johnson has been caressing the flesh.  (looks at one of the men in his group)  Maybe Holmes - he's not too particular about who he's with.  Okay, we'll go and open the chicken coup and let the birds out.  He'll be out after 'em in a minute and we can put the collar on him.  

 

(The chickens are noisy and loud when released, however, it is the woman who comes out to gather them back to the coup and one fowl leads her right to where Willet and his men are hiding)

 

WOMAN

What do you want?  

 

(Willet puts his hand over her mouth as she tries to scream)

 

WILLET

Be quiet!   We don't want you, we want the shadow inside! (motions to her house)

 

(Inside, Johnson becomes curious when he doesn't see his mate)

 

JOHNSON

Where are you, baby?  I'm missing your company.  Better hurry 'fore I drink all the wine!  (comes out and walks towards the coup)  Julie?  Julie, where are you girl?  

 

(Johnson opens the door to the coup and sees Julie, restrained by the men)

 

JOHNSON

What do you want?  

(Willet pushes the woman away) 

 

WILLET

We want you, Midnight.  Just look at you here - taking advantage of this white woman.  That ain't right.  It's just not right.  Do you think it's right Johnson?

 

SCENE CHANGES TO MADAM WATSON THROWING A PARTY TO CELEBRATE HER VICTORY IN COURT

 

MADAM WATSON

The Lord sees to it, that which was wrong is now put right.

 

MORGAN

Well said, Madam, and we have to strike down every law that makes a mockery of human dignity.

 

(SCENE RETURNS TO THE HOME OF THE WIDOW.  WILLET AND HIS GANG ARE ABOUT TO STRING UP JOHNSON TO A TREE)

 

Willet

If you can tell me why you should live then you can have a chance to.  And you better make it convincing if you value your life.

 

Johnson

I didn't do anything that deserve hanging.  Let me go, please, I ain't never hurt a soul.

 

Woman

He's telling you the truth.  He ain't never hurt anyone.  Please let him go.

 

Willet

Why are you pleading for this rubbish?  One less means another white man can put food in his belly.  Now if he can't tell me why he should live then I am going to let him swing.  (looks at Johnson)  Why should I let you live?

 

Johnson

Only God should decide when a man lives and when he dies.

 

Willet

God's on vacation and I'm in charge now.  I say your answer wasn't good enough.  Prepare for the gates of hell, your kind don't make it to heaven.

 

Johnson

(shouting)  Don't do it, please!  Don't just take my life from me.

 

(he screams as his woman tries to break free from Willet's grasp. She is knocked to the ground by Willet's gun and lay there motionless.  One of the men slips a rope over the tree and they hang Johnson)

 

(SCENE RETURNS TO MADAM WATSON'S.  A GROUP OF BLACK MEN ARE WAITING TO SEE HER)

 

(enter Madam Watson and B.J. behind her)

 

Madam Watson

(recognizing the leader)  Samuel Kaset!  How are you my friend?

 

Kaset

I am well, Madam Watson, but I came to tell you about another lynching.  A good friend was found hanging from a tree outside his home where he lived with his white girlfriend - they tied her to the tree he was hanging from.  

 

(SCENE FADES ON THIS SOMBER NOTE)

 

 

(ONE WEEK LATER)

 

MADAM READS A LETTER FROM D'SILLA TO HER FRIEND, MATTY)

 

Madam Watson

She says here that she is in love.

 

Matty

With who?  

 

Madam Watson

With her friend's brother, his name is Charles D...  (she spells out the rest of the name) D-E-S-R-O-U-G-E.   Must be French.  I don't know how to pronounce French words.

 

Matty

I am from New Orleans, let me see.  (she takes the letter and looks at it)  It's pronounced Day-Rooj.  It means "the red".  You know, like "rouge" lipstick.

 

Madam Watson

That is them that's what it says on the other side.  Isn't that wonderful, my baby found love.

(ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF PARIS, D'SILLA AND CHARLES ARE HORSEBACK RIDING AT TOP SPEED, RACING EACH OTHER TO A BARN)

 

Charles

(arriving first)  It sure takes you Americans long to get where you are going.  It seem as though I have been waiting for you here for weeks and I even gave you the faster horse.

 

D'Silla

We American women let our men win.  We know how to make them happy.

 

(she gets off her horse; he walks over to her)

 

Charles

We have known each other for eight days now.  Do you think it's too soon for me to ask you for your hand in marriage?

 

D'Silla

You sure don't waste anytime, do you, Charles?

 

Charles

I know what I want and you are what I want.  If you want me then what is the problem?

 

D'Silla

Charles, it's only been a week.  What if you decide to ask someone else two weeks from now?

 

Charles

I have never asked anyone to marry me!  I am in love with you, D'Silla.  Some people, it takes them forever to know if they feel the right thing.  For me, the moment it hits, I know it.  (he moves closer to her)  Do you want to be married to me or not? (pause)  I tell you what, tonight, I will take you to the best show in Paris.  It will make you feel so romantic, you will not be able to say no to me.

 

(SCENE CHANGES TO A DIMLY LIT NIGHT CLUB.  ON STAGE, A BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMAN IS SINGING)

 

(SCENE FADES)