The Red Letter Plays Read online

  The Red Letter Plays is copyright © 2001 Suzan-Lori Parks

  In the Blood is copyright © 1998, 2001 Suzan-Lori Parks

  Fucking A is copyright © 2000, 2001 Suzan-Lori Parks

  The Red Letter Plays is published by Theatre Communications Group, Inc., 520 8th Ave., New York, NY 10018–4156.

  All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio or television reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that this material, being fully protected under the Copyright Laws of the United States of America and all other countries of the Berne and Universal Copyright Conventions, is subject to a royalty. All rights including, but not limited to, professional, amateur, recording, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio and television broadcasting, and the rights of translation into foreign languages are expressly reserved. Particular emphasis is placed on the question of readings and all uses of this book by educational institutions, permission for which must be secured from the author’s representative: George P. Lane, Creative Artists Agency, 767 5th Ave., New York, NY 10153, (212) 833-3600.

  Music and lyrics are copyright © 2001 by Suzan-Lori Parks.

  This publication is made possible in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency.

  TCG books are exclusively distributed to the book trade by Consortium Book Sales and Distribution, 1045 Westgate Dr., St. Paul, MN 55114.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Parks, Suzan-Lori.

  The red letter plays / Suzan-Lori Parks.— 1st ed.

  p. cm.

  Contents: In the blood — Fucking A.

  eISBN 978-1-55936-737-0

  1. Afro-American women—Drama. 2. Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804–1864—Adaptations.

  I. Hawthorne, Nathaniel, 1804–1864. Scarlet letter. II Title.

  PS3566.A736 R442000

  812’.54—dc21 00-046679

  Cover photo of Charlayne Woodard by Martha Swope

  Cover design by Pentagram

  Text design and composition by Lisa Govan

  First Edition, July 2001

  Thanks 2

  Terry Nemeth @ TCG Books

  George C. Wolfe and The Posse @ The Public

  Kathy Sova

  Liz Diamond

  David Esbjornson

  Loris Bradley, Jason Nodler & IBP

  Emily Morse

  Dare Clubb

  Tony Kushner

  John Dias

  Bonnie Metzgar

  Stephanie Parks

  Paul Oscher

  4

  handholding

  cheerleading

  loving

  & lighthousing

  Contents

  Thanks 2

  Author’s Elements of Style

  In the Blood

  Production History

  Characters

  Author’s Note

  Prologue

  SCENE 1: Under the Bridge

  SCENE 2: Street Practice

  SCENE 3: The Reverend on His Soapbox

  SCENE 4: With the Welfare

  SCENE 5: Small Change and Sandwiches

  SCENE 6: The Reverend on the Rock

  SCENE 7: My Song in the Street

  SCENE 8: The Hand of Fate

  SCENE 9: The Prison Door

  Fucking A

  Production History

  Characters

  Author’s Note

  PART ONE

  SCENE 1

  SCENE 2

  SCENE 3

  SCENE 4

  SCENE 5

  SCENE 6

  SCENE 7

  SCENE 8

  SCENE 9

  SCENE 10

  SCENE 11

  SCENE 12

  PART TWO

  SCENE 13

  SCENE 14

  SCENE 15

  SCENE 16

  SCENE 17

  SCENE 18

  SCENE 19

  TALK Translation

  Author’s Elements of Style

  I’m continuing the use of my slightly unconventional theatrical elements. Here’s a road map.

  (Rest)

  Take a little time, a pause, a breather; make a transition.

  A Spell

  An elongated and heightened (Rest). Denoted by repetition of figures’ names with no dialogue. Has sort of an architectural look:

  Reverend D.

  Hester

  Reverend D.

  Hester

  This is a place where the figures experience their pure true simple state. While no action or stage business is necessary, directors should fill this moment as they best see fit.

  [Brackets in the text indicate optional cuts for production.]

  (Parentheses around dialogue indicate softly spoken passages ((asides; sotto voce)).

  IN THE BLOOD

  Production History

  In the Blood premiered at The Joseph Papp Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival (George C. Wolfe, Producer; Rosemarie Tichler, Artistic Producer; Mark Litvin, Managing Director) in New York City in November 1999. It was directed by David Esbjornson; the set design was by Narelle Sissons; the lighting design was by Jane Cox; the sound design was by Don DiNicola; the costume design was by Elizabeth Hope Clancy; the production dramaturg was John Dias; and the production stage manager was Kristen Harris. The cast was as follows:

  Hester, La Negrita

  Charlayne Woodard

  Chilli/Jabber

  Rob Campbell

  Reverend D. /Baby

  Reggie Montgomery

  The Welfare Lady/Bully

  Gail Grate

  The Doctor/Trouble

  Bruce MacVittie

  Amiga Gringa/Beauty

  Deirdre O’Connell

  Characters

  Hester, La Negrita

  Chilli/Jabber, her oldest son

  Reverend D./Baby, her youngest son

  The Welfare Lady/Bully, her oldest daughter

  The Doctor/Trouble, her middle son

  Amiga Gringa/Beauty, her youngest daughter

  Place

  Here

  Time

  Now

  Author’s Note

  This play requires a cast of six adult actors, five of whom double as adults and children. The setting should be spare, to reflect the poverty of the world of the play.

  Prologue

  All clustered together.

  All

  THERE SHE IS!

  WHO DOES SHE THINK

  SHE IS

  THE NERVE SOME PEOPLE HAVE

  SHOULDNT HAVE IT IF YOU CANT AFFORD IT

  AND YOU KNOW SHE CANT

  SHE DONT GOT NO SKILLS

  CEPT ONE

  CANT READ CANT WRITE

  SHE MARRIED?

  WHAT DO YOU THINK?

  SHE OUGHTA BE MARRIED

  THATS WHY THINGS ARE BAD LIKE THEY ARE

  CAUSE OF

  GIRLS LIKE THAT

  THAT EVER HAPPEN TO ME YOU WOULDNT SEE ME HAVING IT

  YOU WOULDNT SEE THAT HAPPENING TO ME

  WHO THE HELL SHE THINK SHE IS

  AND NOW WE GOT TO PAY FOR IT

  THE NERVE

  SOME PEOPLE HAVE

  BAD LUCK

  SHE OUGHTA GET MARRIED

  TO WHO?

  THIS AINT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HER

  NO?

  THIS IS HER FIFTH

  FIFTH?

  SHE GOT FIVE OF THEM />
  FIVE BRATS

  AND NOT ONE OF THEM GOT A DADDY

  PAH!

  They spit.

  WHOS THE DADDY?

  SHE WONT TELL

  SHE WONT TELL CAUSE SHE DONT KNOW

  SHE KNOWS

  NO SHE DONT

  HOW COULD A GIRL NOT KNOW

  WHEN YOU HAD SO MUCH ACTION YOU LOSE A FRACTION

  OF YR GOOD SENSE

  THE PART OF MEN SHE SEES ALL LOOK THE SAME ANYWAY

  WATCH YR MOUTH

  I DIDNT SAY NOTHING

  YOU TALKING ALL NASTY AND THAT AINT RIGHT

  THERES CHILDREN HERE

  WHERES THE CHILDREN I DONT SEE NO CHILDREN

  SHE MARRIED?

  SHE AINT MARRIED

  SHE DONT GOT NO SKILLS

  CEPT ONE

  CANT READ CANT WRITE

  SHE MARRIED?

  WHAT DO YOU THINK?

  All

  All

  All

  SHE KNOWS SHES A NO COUNT

  SHIFTLESS

  HOPELESS

  BAD NEWS

  BURDEN TO SOCIETY

  HUSSY

  SLUT

  PAH!

  They spit.

  JUST PLAIN STUPID IF YOU ASK ME AINT NO SMART WOMAN GOT 5 BASTARDS

  AND NOT A PENNY TO HER NAME

  SOMETHINGS GOTTA BE DONE TO STOP THIS SORT OF THING

  CAUSE I’LL BE DAMNED IF SHE GONNA LIVE OFF ME

  HERE SHE COMES

  MOVE ASIDE

  WHAT SHE GOTS CATCHY

  LET HER PASS

  DONT GET CLOSE

  YOU DONT WANNA LOOK LIKE YOU KNOW HER

  STEP OFF!

  They part like the Red Sea would.

  Hester, La Negrita passes through them.

  She holds a Newborn Baby in her arms.

  All

  IT WONT END WELL FOR HER

  HOW YOU KNOW?

  I GOT EYES DON’T I

  BAD NEWS IN HER BLOOD

  PLAIN AS DAY.

  All

  Hester

  All

  Hester lifts the child up, raising it toward the sky.

  Hester

  My treasure. My joy.

  All

  PAH!

  They spit.

  SCENE 1

  Under the Bridge

  Home under the bridge. The word “SLUT” scrawled on a wall. Hesters oldest child Jabber, 13, studies that scrawl. Hester lines up soda cans as her youngest child Baby, 2 years old, watches.

  Hester

  Zit uh good word or a bad word?

  Jabber

  Jabber

  Hester

  Aint like you to have yr mouth shut, Jabber. Say it to me and we can figure out the meaning together.

  Jabber

  Naaaa —

  Hester

  What I tell you bout saying “Naa” when you mean “no”? You talk like that people wont think you got no brains and Jabbers got brains. All my kids got brains, now.

  (Rest)

  Lookie here, Baby. Mamma set the cans for you. Mamma gonna show you how to make some money. Watch.

  Jabber

  Im slow.

  Hester

  Slow aint never stopped nothing, Jabber. You bring yr foot down on it and smash it flat. Howabout that, Baby? Put it in the pile and thats that. Now you try.

  Baby jumps on the can smashing it flat, hollering as he smashes.

  Baby

  Ha!

  Hester

  Yr a natural! Jabber, yr little baby brothers a natural. We gonna come out on top this month, I can feel it. Try another one, Baby.

  Jabber

  They wrote it in yr practice place.

  Hester

  Yes they did.

  Jabber

  They wrote in yr practice place so you didnt practice today.

  Hester

  I practiced. In my head. In the air. In the dirt underfoot.

  Jabber

  Lets see.

  With great difficulty Hester makes an “A” in the dirt.

  Hester

  The letter A.

  Jabber

  Almost.

  Hester

  You gonna disparage me I aint gonna practice.

  Baby

  Mommmmieee!

  Hester

  Gimmieuhminute, Baby-child.

  Jabber

  Legs apart hands crost the chest like I showd you. Try again.

  Baby

  Mommieee!

  Hester

  See the pretty can, Baby?

  Baby

  Ha!

  Jabber

  Try again.

  Baby

  Mommmieee!

  Hester

  Later. Read that word out to me, huh? I like it when you read to me.

  Jabber

  Dont wanna read it.

  Hester

  Cant or wont?

  Jabber

  —Cant.

  Hester

  Jabber

  He knows what the word says, but he wont say it.

  Hester

  I was sick when I was carrying you. Damn you, slow fool. Aaah, my treasure, cmmeer. My oldest treasure.

  Hester gives him a quick hug.

  She looks at the word, its letters mysterious to her.

  Baby smashes can after can.

  Hester

  Go scrub it off, then. I like my place clean.

  Jabber dutifully scrubs the wall.

  Hester

  We know who writ it up there. It was them bad boys writing on my home. And in my practice place. Do they write on they own homes? I dont think so. They come under the bridge and write things they dont write nowhere else. A mean ugly word, I’ll bet. A word to hurt our feelings. And because we aint lucky we gotta live with it. 5 children I got. 5 treasures. 5 joys. But we aint got our leg up, just yet. So we gotta live with mean words and hurt feelings.

  Jabber

  Words dont hurt my feelings, Mamma.

  Hester

  Dont disagree with me.

  Jabber

  Sticks and stones, Mamma.

  Hester

  Yeah. I guess.

  (Rest)

  Too late for yr sisters and brother to still be out. Yr little brother Babys gonna make us rich. He learns quick. Look at him go.

  Hester lines up more cans and Baby jumps on them, smashing them all. Bully, her 12-year-old girl, runs in.

  Bully

  Mommieeeeeeeee! Mommie, Trouble he has really done it this time. I told him he was gonna be doing life and he laughed and then I said he was gonna get the electric chair and you know what he said?

  Hester

  Help me sack the cans.

  Bully

  He said a bad word!

  Hester

  Sack the cans.

  They sack the crushed cans.

  Bully

  Trouble he said something really bad but Im not saying it cause if I do yll wash my mouth. What he said was bad but what he did, what he did was worse.

  Hester

  Whatd he do?

  Bully

  Stole something.

  Hester

  Food?

  Bully

  No.

  Hester

  Toys?

  Bully

  No.

  Hester

  I dont like youall stealing toys and I dont like youall stealing food but it happens. I wont punish you for it. Yr just kids. Trouble thinks with his stomach. He hungry he takes, sees a toy, gotta have it.

  Bully

  A policeman saw him steal and ran after him but Trouble ran faster cause the policeman was fat.

  Hester

  Policeman chased him?

  Bully

  He had a big stomach. Like he was pregnant. He was jiggling and running and yelling and red in the face.

  Hester

  What he steal?

  Bully

  —Nothing.

  Hester

&nb
sp; You talk that much and you better keep talking, Miss.

  Bully buttons her lips.

  Hester pops her upside the head.

  Bully

  Owwww!

  Hester

  Get outa my sight. Worse than a thief is a snitch that dont snitch.

  Trouble, age 10, and Beauty, age 7, run in, breathless.

  They see Hester eyeing them and stop running; they walk nonchalantly.

  Hester

  What you got behind you?

  Trouble

  Nothing. Jabber, what you doing?

  Jabber

  Cleaning the wall.

  Beauty

  My hair needs a ribbon.

  Hester

  Not right now it dont. You steal something?

  Trouble

  Me? Whats cookin?

  Hester

  Soup of the day.

  Trouble

  We had soup the day yesterday.

  Hester

  Todays a new day.

  Beauty

  Is it a new soup?

  Hester

  Wait and see. You gonna end up in the penitentiary and embarass your mother?

  Trouble

  No.

  Hester

  If you do I’ll kill you. Set the table.

  Jabber

  Thats girls work.

  Trouble

  Mommiee—

  Bully

  Troubles doing girls work Troubles doing girls work.

  Hester

  Set the damn table or Ima make a girl outa you!

  Trouble

  You cant make a girl outa me.

  Hester

  Dont push me!

  (Rest)

  Look, Baby. See the soup? Mommies stirring it. Dont come close, its hot.

  Beauty

  I want a ribbon.

  Hester

  Get one I’ll tie it in.

  Beauty gets a ribbon.

  Trouble gets bowls, wipes them clean, hands them out.

  Hester follows behind him and, out of the back of his pants, yanks a policemans club.

  Hester

  Whered you get this?

  Trouble

  Hester

  Trouble

  Hester

  I said—