SYNOPSIS:
In the late 1920’s, a time when the lynching of black men is an accepted and widespread form of racial oppres-sion, a black Chicago journalist travels to the deep South to interview a Kleagle, a recruiter for the Ku Klux Klan. The reporter, passing for white, aims to change American public opinion, which has tolerated—often supported—Klan terror. But first he must succeed in his deception—and survive. However, his true racial identity is discovered by the Klan. This production is about this moment. CHARACTERS IN SAMPLE DIALOGUE BELOW: MONAHAN is the Kleagle (KKK recruiter and leader) JOHN is the black journalist who passes for white TOOKIE is a bootblack who works for Monahan. PLOT PRECEDING SAMPLE DIALOGUE: With the intention of lynching John, Monahan has decided to have "fun" with John by telling him horrendous details about atrocities committed against blacks by the Klan. While telling him these things, he actively seeks John's denouncement of black people. To get the news story he came for, John "adds his own poison to the mix" to get more information from Monahan. After Monahan has tossed John over an emotional landscape, he suggests the interview be continued at his house. But first he has to attend to some business downstairs. However, Monahan's real purpose in going downstairs is to prepare the members of his klavern to lynch John. The dialogue below deals with Tookie's entrance into the script. Tookie's purpose in coming upstairs is to alert John, even though he believes John is white. He says in later dialogue, "Look, mister, I don't know who you are or what you done. I figure you must be good for us 'cause they don't like you worth rattlesnake spit downstairs. They fixin' to get you and do something to you." SAMPLE DIALOGUE: (There is a knock on the door. Puzzled, MONAHAN answers it.) Tookie, bless my soul. What brings you here? TOOKIE ‘Scuse me, can I come in, boss? MONAHAN Sure. I don't see why not. Come on in. John, I want you to meet Tookie, you know, fella I was talking to you about before? Bootblack from downstairs. My favorite nigrah in the whole wide world. Shine your shoes to make the sun blush. Ain't that right, Tookie? TOOKIE That's right, boss. I put a jim-dandy shine on yer shoes. MONAHAN Gettin’ a little carried away with yerself, ain’t ya, Tookie. Hey Tookie. Been behavin' yerself lately? TOOKIE Oh you know I been behavin' myself. MONAHAN We ain't gon' have no added little 'uns comin' up on us, now are we? TOOKIE Nosir. MONAHAN Ya let Flo get her rest. Flo's his missus. Woman cranks'm out like rabbits. Got to be something they put in her collard greens. How many chilluns' ya got? |
TOOKIE Nine. MONAHAN Whooooooeee! Now this's what I call a poontang hound. If that don't beat all. No wonder he shines the shoes so good. And you move around so slow so you can save energy, right? Say, how come you up here anyhow? TOOKIE It’s shoeshine day. MONAHAN Now you know I don’t like to be interrupted when I have guests. TOOKIE (looks down) Sorry boss. I didn’t know he was here. (MONAHAN lets TOOKIE squirm then laughs hard, slapping him on the back.) MONAHAN Don’t go getting’ y’self all riled up. I know how you niggers get things all mixed up, can’t keep things straight in your head. Ain’t that right John? (JOHN nods.) Aw now. You not gettin’ all serious on me too. (JOHN laughs.) JOHN Not at all. How about your bootblack going over my shoes? TOOKIE Like he said, his shoes do need some work. MONAHAN Don't contend with me, nigger. Know yer place. y'hear? TOOKIE Yes, boss. MONAHAN Y’hear what I said to you? TOOKIE Yessir. MONAHAN Don’t let’s forget ourselves now. TOOKIE Nosir boss. Not my way. You know that. I gets along with everybody. MONAHAN Hell, I know you do. You know what’s good for you. Say, c'mere. (MONAHAN takes JOHN's hand and TOOKIE's hand and studies the fingertips.) You can always tell a nigrah's hand from a white man's. Looka here. Nigrah has a special kinda half moon on the fingernail quick white man don't. JOHN (withdraws his hand) What's this all about? MONAHAN Nuthin in particular. Just a thought comes to mind. I can tell a nigrah from ten miles away. What the hell. Shine's shoes, boy. Make them sing to the skies. You make sure to take care of our special guest, y'hear? TOOKIE Yes boss. 'll get right on it. |