For the Reckord Page 5

  GEORGE: Leave it Ruddy.

  RUDDY: Leave me crutch. We can hold on to this and still bust him.

  GEORGE: (Sharply.) Leave it.

  RUDDY drops the money.

  SHEPHERD: (Calls into the house.) Vie. Vie.

  GEORGE: (To SHEPHERD.) Hear my word, ol’ massa. Don’t touch the son or the mother… Della, or Joshie or Tata.

  SHEPHERD: Don’t touch Joshie?

  GEORGE: And make sure they stay alive. For if any of them dead, however they dead, even if God call them, we goin’ feel is you murder them, and before you hang, beat you so you drag yourself from this yard to Vie’s bed. Pick up your money.

  SHEPHERD bends down and picks up the money bag, then slowly makes his way off downstage left. As he goes, the boys group themselves by DELLA at upstage-right-centre.

  DELLA: (Turning to RUDDY.) Ruddy, take Papa G’s bicycle, find your friends. Tell them Della will preach to the people. Explain to them. Be a leader to them.

  DELLA turns and hurries out through the gate. The boys watch her go.

  GEORGE: (Turning to RUDDY.) Well go on.

  RUDDY: You go.

  The lights fade down and the curtain falls, there is a pause and then DELLA is heard.

  DELLA: And Moses, the great Egyptian, the black man, threw down the terrible idol. The golden calf that Aaron built the holy people trampled on when their eyes were opened. When their eyes were opened they sang.

  DELLA sings the opening line of ‘Hold Fast’ and the CHORUS join in with her.

  SCENE FIVE

  At the close of the second chorus of ‘Hold Fast’, the singers repeat the last two lines fading in volume.

  CHORUS: Hold fast and never let go,

  Hold fast and never let go.

  The lights come up revealing DELLA’s house, GLORIA leaning left of the door, RUDDY seated window chair, JOSHIE on floor next to cradle at right, and GEORGE sitting on cradle stool.

  GLORIA: Della preaching strong, but shut your eyes to her lip, for it trembling. She tell them the verse about the good Shepherd and beside him she compare Aaron. She say success please Aaron; success stop his fret; where he see success he is all over it like a tail wagging. Then she say “This worshipper want worship. This candle burner, this salaam-hoarder, collect it, count it.” She sounds good.

  GEORGE: I talk to Jack, Sago, Freddie, Sam, Blackboy, and One-son. All of them aware of the ignorance and suffering, but you think they would come? Tomorrow glass factory opening up. It goin’ to employ them.

  RUDDY: You think I could raise something down there, George?

  GEORGE: Some people are bitches, me son.

  GEORGE exits. DELLA enters upstage-right, sees GEORGE disappearing.

  DELLA: George! (She enters the room.) Where’s Joe?

  GLORIA: Joe gone down to the beach to catch the czar boat. He not going to come, Miss Della. I tell you already.

  DELLA: You tell him I offer to buy his fish for him?

  GLORIA: Yes.

  DELLA: You lie!

  GLORIA: Well, if I lie, just find somebody else.

  GLORIA exits.

  RUDDY: Tell you, Miss Della, what I want is bed, and the young lady’s home that’s due to oblige me with it. And I’m going.

  RUDDY exits. DELLA turns to JOSHIE.

  JOSHIE: Shepherd out to cripple me.

  DELLA: Tonight the young men warn him.

  JOSHIE: They can’t protect me.

  DELLA: Just a little while ago they nearly beat him.

  JOSHIE: Nearly! You see how they desert you now.

  DELLA: If Shepherd touch you it will anger all the people.

  JOSHIE: I am no bait to catch Shepherd.

  DELLA: Yes bait, like any man in the fight against him. Because we expose him tonight the young men are for Della, not Shepherd. Join them. If Shepherd touch you, he touch them.

  JOSHIE: I phone the doctor. Tonight I goin’ up there to sleep.

  DELLA: I call you now to face him Joshie. Hear me. The whole yard know you are wanted. Everybody watching that Goliath. God’s sent your stone and sling to save us. In the morning go out to him.

  JOSHIE: Tomorrow mornin’ me goin’ start gardenin’ work at doctor friend, Mrs. Matthews.

  DELLA: Little while ago the young men were at him. They are crackling a little and we must fan them. They are the only ones now to destroy Aaron.

  JOSHIE: I go to Mrs. Matthews this mornin’ an’ first thing she give me is a pants.

  DELLA: Her son pants?

  JOSHIE: Is a good trousers.

  DELLA: What Mrs. Matthews’ son name?

  JOSHIE: Mass Herbie.

  DELLA: (With the slightest stress on the “Mass”.) Mass Herbie same size as you?

  JOSHIE: I never see him. He have a boy size bat an’ ball to play with when he come home from school.

  DELLA: All the time Mass Herbie will take advantage of you.

  JOSHIE: Doctor say I mus’ go.

  DELLA: But don’t bother go.

  JOSHIE: I hearin’ what the doctor say.

  DELLA: When Mass Herbie boots dirty who goin’ clean them?

  JOSHIE: I can’t do better.

  DELLA: What about your trade. Go back to your trade.

  JOSHIE: Trade people too savage.

  DELLA: People savage… till you teach them this, they not so savage, teach them that, they little less savage.

  JOSHIE: Negroes take long to learn.

  DELLA: You feel that. This is the power of the White-Wolf.

  JOSHIE: You can do what you like.

  DELLA: The hurt White-Wolf do me don’t touch you.

  JOSHIE: Doctor say we must bury it with Christian love.

  DELLA: Stay here tonight, and leave in the morning.

  JOSHIE: Why?

  DELLA: Because I beg you, Joshie.

  JOSHIE: No. I goin’ outside to wash my face and hands.

  JOSHIE exits.

  DELLA: Leave me too, Tata; leave me for good. What is Della? A dirty frock with a half-dead baby. “A good woman” I hear you whisper, oh Lord? Joshie want goodness? He want station and power, so he sleep at White-Wolf’s, while the good Della dwindles, her future wrapped up with Tata bedclothes. This useless fever will stay with you, Tata, shake and burn you till darkness come. The young men are for Della, not Shepherd. Tata, if I give you this pillow then plant the murder on Shepherd, how they would root up the tyrant… When the people hear that part of his magic is murder they will laugh and drink rum and spit obeah out. Oh, but the glutinous eye, treasure like its own pupil, the life it once lit on. Let Shepherd and the yard gorge themselves on the stenchy sin till they sicken, I won’t root up my son to purge them… Oh, Almighty God, my life’s in a tangle; single it out. If I’m to trudge on with my necessary purpose, reduce Tata to the unseen foetus I’d be glad to wash out.

  JOSHIE re-enters.

  You leavin’ me, Joshie?

  JOSHIE doesn’t answer, but collects his things and goes.

  Then take the lantern.

  Exit JOSHIE.

  In war young men just walk over to death; with no more thought than in a sleep they walk. So I must learn to use death to strain life clean. Tata, Tata. Good. Sleep. Life not made for use, it made in sport, and so light as it come, so light it should be wiped out. Oh, the long generations of mothers nestling sons, drag the power from my hand. How anxious to keep what breed in a dark corner stink with urine. When I whisper to the young men and they to one another how Shepherd savage to quench a son, pity will kindle in them, anger spurt up, the multitude lose their dampening fear and blaze. Run, Shepherd, from the heat of that fire. So, Tata, by death you destroy Shepherd and yet make White-Wolf less strong. Now negroes will wonder whether they should cook the food they can’t eat, wash the clothes they can’t wear, make the beds they can’t climb into, and sleep.

  She smothers TATA, and sits by the child for a long time, saying nothing. Then comes the DOCTOR’s voice.

  DOCTOR: (Calling from outside.) Della. Della.
Della.

  He pushes his head in at the door and, seeing her standing there looking at him, enters. She rises and moves the lamp over to the other corner of the room, so as to leave the bed in darkness.

  They said you were in. Is it too late to call? Is it?

  DELLA: It late, yes.

  DOCTOR: I only came to collect Joshie. Did he tell you? Didn’t he say? He wanted to stay at my house tonight. I invited him. Unless you object.

  DELLA: Joshie gone.

  DOCTOR: What is it? What’s wrong? You don’t look very well. You’re trembling. Mind if I close the door? I can’t leave here with you sick. Unless you insist.

  DELLA doesn’t answer, but he goes on talking, talking, talking.

  (Going up to DELLA.) Why don’t you let me stay and look after you for a bit?

  DELLA: You hold me like this because I sick.

  DOCTOR: I’m sorry. I guessed that’s what you were afraid of. (He settles DELLA down to chat.) Last night I dreamt I had my office in the yard out there and the people around came swarming, but somehow I was only sitting down, and it was Joshie going among them healing. Do dreams mean a lot to you?

  DELLA: I never remember them.

  DOCTOR: But suppose I did set up shop and came to live down here. Would it surprise you? I have done things on impulse. But would you – White Wolf and all that – want me to? Would you? Rent me one of these same 12/- a month things. Keep it clean. No more or better furniture than the neighbours have. You’d cook for me, wouldn’t you? A garden, such as they could have if they bothered. And I’d soon have Shepherd as a patient.

  DELLA makes no reply.

  If I did come and set up shop, would you come and live with me then?

  DELLA’s thoughts are elsewhere.

  DELLA: Doctor?

  DOCTOR: You used to say “doctor” in that way only when I wasn’t welcome. How’s Tata? Still in my care?

  DOCTOR goes to cot.

  Let’s have a look at him.

  DOCTOR goes to pick up the lamp.

  DELLA: Give me.

  DELLA takes the lamp and goes to cot, followed by the Doctor.

  DOCTOR: (Sees TATA’s swollen dead face.) Was Aaron here?

  DELLA: Yes. I come in and find him here.

  DOCTOR: The people outside said you haven’t been out all evening. (After a pause, turning on her.) I see. Didn’t you even love your son?

  DELLA: (With some sarcasm.) Won’t the angels receive him?

  DOCTOR: If word gets out to the police, Della, I couldn’t see Shepherd hang.

  DELLA: You bleed for Aaron?

  DOCTOR: Bury Tata quietly. I’ll certify. He died. No one killed him. Not you, nor Shepherd.

  DELLA: Bury him? I watch him kick when I press him.

  DOCTOR: It isn’t a cheap decision. There’s danger for me in it. If I don’t report murder I am an accomplice.

  DELLA: I tear out a path I must follow. If I hang I am with him.

  LAL: (From outside.) Miss Della? (She enters.)

  DOCTOR: Jesus Christ!

  LAL: Only in the darkness I venture in to the street.

  DELLA: You come to hear how you stand with Shepherd?

  LAL: Della! That man mother suckle him with gall, and the rest of us must burn and laugh and suffer at his will, and be the sheep that Shepherd can kill.

  DELLA: And now, who kill Tata, Lal?

  LAL: Tata gone? I didn’t know your grief was so dear.

  DELLA: Before you sleep, go round Trench Town and say Shepherd murder Tata, Della son.

  LAL: I will tell the people that Shepherd sent me the other day to murder Tata.

  LAL exits door.

  DELLA: You will go to the police and defeat me now.

  DOCTOR: If word gets out to the police, Della…

  DELLA: Word won’t get to the police. We won’t bother with the police. The police are nearly asleep now, but the people are waking. (She goes to cradle.) Tonight, all round your body they will wail, then march on Shepherd.

  DOCTOR: Will they? You really believe that?

  DELLA: When the light in my eyes strike the multitude of mourners, their tears, like blades will glitter.

  The DOCTOR exits. DELLA sinks onto stool. LAL hurries across the stage from wing to wing and small groups begin to whisper offstage. One by one six women and a little girl enter to commiserate with DELLA and form a group round the cradle. First lady goes off left for a candle and returns, second lady begins to sing ‘Rock of Ages’. The others join in. Two more ladies go off and return with two candles each. On the end of the line “Be of sin” the lights fade and the curtain falls.

  SCENE SIX

  An hour later, children are still awake and talking.

  A bell.

  FIRST CHILD: Catholic bell ring late.

  SECOND CHILD: (Bell.) Only some o’ the stroke the breeze blow over.

  FIRST CHILD: It sound slow, like a death bell.

  SECOND CHILD: Death for my litter of rabbits. All tonight I hear them whisper ‘bout Tata.

  FIRST CHILD: Women su-su like the breeze in a cashaw tree.

  SECOND CHILD: All tonight Della preach against the obeah man, but the people don’t have any heart. They ‘fraid.

  FIRST CHILD: Your Aunt Jane ‘fraid.

  SECOND CHILD: Yes.

  FIRST CHILD: And I’m afraid.

  SECOND CHILD: Only some of the strokes the breeze blow over, an’ it sound like death.

  Bell louder.

  SCENE SEVEN

  As the light gets brighter, more and more people are revealed.

  SHEPHERD: You feel I do murder. I do no murder, but you draw round to stare at me like a murderer. Is twenty of you and me one. Why you having mercy then on me? Because you know that if there is murder, the court is not in Della’s back yard, but in the town.

  Faint murmurs of approval.

  You will wait till I am charged.

  Louder murmurs.

  Till then you will count me a murderer, or the keeper of the commandment, “Thou shalt do no murder”?

  GEORGE: (Shouting interruptions.) You didn’t send Lal the other day to murder Tata.

  SHEPHERD: If Tata dead, I didn’t kill him.

  GEORGE: You escaped from your guilt, now your innocence should hang you.

  SHEPHERD: (To the crowd.) He knows I am innocent.

  GEORGE: I know you sent Lal after Tata the other day. And plenty of these people here know. (To the people.) Some of you know that the other day he sent Miss Lal to murder Tata.

  A WOMAN’S VOICE IN THE CROWD: Yes.

  GEORGE: (To the crowd.) And many of you know that the miracle tonight was a sham.

  SHEPHERD: (Calling for someone to chuck GEORGE out.) Frank!

  GEORGE: (Shouting SHEPHERD down.) Hear me. Where is the miracle that will put away our hunger?

  A MAN IN THE CROWD: (One of SHEPHERD’s cronies.) Hunger not everything. Hunger is nothing. The thing is to drag the woman Della here to preach white supremacy in Trench Town. That would bring the white man in to be Lord and God.

  SHEPHERD: Yes, when the power of God is living black.

  GEORGE opens his mouth to answer and is struck across it. In the excitement, SHEPHERD whips up the crowd.

  Someone murder Tata. God will forgive everything except to the man with blood on his hands. Why? Because all sin, and fall short of the glory, and to repent, God gives us his chosen number of years and no man must cut them off. That is why, though Della charging this and that, you sit cold and wait. Wait for me to talk, to hear me.

  Approval from the CROWD.

  Not all that cry “Lord, Lord” shall enter, nor all that point the finger are guiltless. If she cry, “Murderer”, she must have a witness. And who is that witness?

  Isolated cries of “None!”

  Frank, go to the police and say Shepherd reporting murder in Trench Town. The good book says judge no man. No man at all. Call no man murderer. (He lowers his voice and is sardonic.) And you read no man except Aaron.


  WOMAN’S VOICE: (Ecstatically.) Frank is on his way to the police station.

  SHEPHERD: What this woman, Della, have, oh Lord, that they should swallow her word and reject me. Come and hear from me the little dignity I walk in, at her word. Suppose the police come on at me, and truncheon me till I bring out tears. That woman is without justice and have no mercy. And for any such, oh Lord, correction. Yes, for any such. Do unto others as they would do unto thee.

  There is a great excitement and echoing of his words.

  Do ye even so to them. Yes. Go to her house and drag her here. Make her confess I am no murderer.

  The crowd pick up the last words of the SHEPHERD ‘Drag her out’ and begin to chant them working up to a frenzy. Three of the men disappear off upstage-right through the gate, the drums pick up the rhythm. When the noise is at its height the men appear at the gate dragging DELLA with them. They throw her down at SHEPHERD’s feet. The crowd fall silent.

  GEORGE: (As they throw her down.) No! Ruddy! No!

  PAPA G: Bitch.

  DELLA drags herself up and turns to the crowd who, blocking her path of escape, shout and scream at her. Desperate, she turns to the SHEPHERD, sees the knife in his belt and grabs it. The crowd, horrified suddenly fall silent and back away from her. Before anyone can stop her she throws herself at SHEPHERD, who tries in vain to evade her, and stabs him several times in the back The crowd scream.

  GEORGE: (Shouting.) No, Miss Dell, Miss Dell! No!

  The SHEPHERD screams, staggers and falls, DELLA backs to the left pros-arch. There is silence. GEORGE kneels by the body, crosses to DELLA. LAL enters upstage right.

  LAL: The police out there. The Doctor bring them in his car.

  Enter DOCTOR and JOSHIE. The DOCTOR stoops by the body of the SHEPHERD and examines him, he finds him dead, all eyes turn to watch DELLA.

  DELLA: Look like guilt alone just didn’t have the edge for killing a man. He was the law down here, and there seemed no power in Heaven to sentence him. It please God that some should ride and some fall under. (She starts to go, pauses by JOSHIE.) Bury Tata. (As she goes, the curtain slowly falls.)

  SKYVERS