far from a distant shore---sub copy

8/13/2019 Far From a Distant Shore---sub Copy

1/69

Far From a Distant Shore.

By Michael Oatman

ACT ONE/SCENE ONE

(The scene opens and a very bright spotlight comes up and Paul Robeson isstanding in the middle of the stage. He is wearing a sensible black suit. Hebegins to sing.)

Robeson

There's an ol' man called the Mississippi

That's the ol' man ! don't li"e to #e

$hat does he care i% de &orld's ot tro#les

$hat does he care i% de land ain't %ree

Ol' Man *i+er

Dat Ol' Man *i+er

,e ms' "no& smpin'

Bt don' say nothin'-

,e .es' "eeps rollin'

,e "eeps on rollin' alon

,e don't plant taters

,e don't plant cotton

An' dem dat plants 'em

!s soon %orotten

Bt Ol' Man *i+er

,e .es' "eeps rollin' alon

0o an' me &e s&eat an' strain

Body all achin' and rac"ed &ith pain

Tote that #are and li%t dat #ale

0o sho& a little rit and

0o lands in .ail

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Bt ! "eeps la%%in'

!nstead o% cryin'

! mst "eep %ihtin'

2ntil !'m dyin'

And Ol' Man *i+er

,e'll .st "eep rollin' alon

(The entire stage becomes illuminated and around Robeson are four to fivePullman sleeping car porters. They stand quickly as soon as he completes hissong and applaud wildly)

Jesse

That nia can san Son o% a #itch that nia can san Boy yo ot this here train .st a

roc"in3 Boy yo can san a tne

Seppy

4i"e a oddamned #ird

Jesse

0es indeed nia yo can san yo hear me

Robeson

,ih praise indeed my ood man

SeppyBoy tal" pretty too ,ey &hat3s yo name #oy

Paul

My name is md

Jesse

My name is md Boy yo cra5y 6He begins to laugh7 !3m tellin yo #oy yo need to

consider ma"in this sinin thin a career yo cold ma"e somethin3 ot cho sel%

Robeson

! &ill de%initely "eep that in mind

Jesse

6He sings7 !t3s dat ol3 man ri+er he .s "eep rollin3 alon 6He stops singing7 ,ell dem

&hite %ol"s p dare &old pay ood money %or that "ind o% a sho& !% only they "ne& it

&as a nia #ac" here &ho cold sin li"e a 8ay #ird 6Beat7 A%ter a son li"e that yo

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mst #e hnry &hatch &ant #oy 0o names it and

Seppy

6Talking in as proper an accent as he can manage7 And ! shall retrie+es it my ood

man 6Laughing7

Robeson

6miles7 Sinin %or my spper ah $hate+er yo ha+e &ill #e %ine &ith me !3m not

particlar

Jesse

,ell yo :#ot the most particlar colored ! dn seen in ;ite a stretch ,ell loo" at dat

damn sit ! s&ear some#ody dn so&ed dat thin ot o% anel hair it3s so %ine oooo&ee

Seppy

0eah a colored man o% distinctionJesse

0o ain3t no nia &ith a sit li"e that yo3se a Nero 6!esse is smiling7 $hat &as

yor name aain straner

Robeson

6Pause7


4/69

Robeson

Since %ore+er it seems

The Porter

Mr *o#eson

Robeson

,a+en3t yo read the papers

The Porter

Nias li"e s don3t hardly ha+e the time to read

Robeson

0eah ! &old imaine so

The Porter

Bein a >eore is a toh li%eRobeson

! didn3t "no& it as a yoner man #t &e3re all >eores in one &ay or another

The Porter

! spose Bt there #ein a >eore and then there3s beinga >eore

Robeson

0eah

The Porter

0o chaned the &ords

Robeson

!3m sorry

The Porter

The &ords yo chaned the &ords 6The porter begins to walk forward and it becomes

clearly obvious that he is lame. The porter is older and in his late '(s but due to a tough

life he looks as though he is in his late )(s7

Robeson

6Beat7 $hy yes 0es ! did

The Porter

0o too" ot the nia

Robeson

0es And added %ihtin Amon other chanes

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The Porter

! thin" ! li"e it

Robeson

$ell !3m lad yo appro+e

The Porter

A#ot a li%etime ao yo came to Cle+eland

Robeson

0es !3+e #een there ;ite a %e& times

The Porter

0o came to the 4andry once

Robeson

0es ! did per%orm on that stae 6Beat7 $as ! ood that nihtThe Porter

0o &ere *o#eson 6Beat7 0o did li"e yo al&ays do 0o shattered the &alls &it dat

#i +oice o% yors

Robeson

0o &or"ed at the 4andry

The Porter

$ell not e@actly Drin those years ! had %allen on hard times ! li+ed in the rail yard

do&n on the hill #ehind the 4andry $e sed to cra&l p throh dirt and parse throh

r##ish #ins to %ind a crst or a hal% eaten apple Anythin that a #ody cold se to &ard

o%% the emptiness o% an n%ed #elly One day &hen nothin else &as on my mind other

than ho& hnry ! &as scra##led my &ay p dat hill co+ered head to %oot in loose soil

Dr my #m le o+er to &here dey dmps the trash and start com#in throh it loo"in

%or anythin to %iht the hner a&ay And then ! heard it $hat sonded li"e the +oice

o% >od ! heard yo sinin Sinin that son 4i"e a +oice slicin throh the clods

or smthin !t .st "eeps rollin alon Trer &ords done ne+er #een spo"e Or san %or

that matter Ain3t many sons many &ords that can psh hner ot o% man3s mind

That3s somethin3 special Mr *o#eson 8st &anted to than" yo %or that

Robeson

! don3t "no& &hat to say

The Porter


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Dn said all yo need to 6Beat. He reaches his hand out. Robeson does the same and

the two men shake hands7 !3ll o chec" on yor %ood !3m sre it shold #e :#ot ready #y

no& 6The porter begins to shuffle away7

Robeson

2hh sir 0or name &hat is yor name

The Porter

6Long pause7 0o can call me >eore 6He smiles The Porter smiles and e#its the stage

and the scene fades to black.7

ACT ONE/SCENE T$O

*The lights fade up and the scene opens and "lbert +instein is sitting in acomfortable chair and by a roaring fire. "nother man, Hibbert, a nervous littleman, in his late -(s is sitting in the chair across from him.

Hibbert

Does the smo"e #other yo

Einstein

Smolderin to#acco in a small room $hy &old that #other me

Hibbert

O% corse ,eir


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Crac" a &indo& ,i##ert


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6Pause7 ! do not nderstand $here is 4incoln 2ni+ersity ! don3t thin" that ! ha+e e+er

heard o% it

Einstein

!t is in


9/69

Einstein

A black hole

Hibbert

This is not a racial isse

Einstein

Not race #t perhaps class yes

Hibbert


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!s one mind not as ood at the ne@t !s a Nero ppil not &orthy o% yor talents $hy

did yo #ecome a scientist in the %irst place &as it %or the lory the lime liht !% that is

yor oal ! &old sest yo consider politics 6Beat7 0o ha+e an o%%er in hand !% yo

ha+e o%%ers %rom more prestiios instittions linin yor poc"ets ! sest yo ta"e them

Hibbert

! am a &orld class scientist

Einstein

0o are a 8e& &ho %led Erope %or his li%e one step ahead o% the cham#ers Most o%

top ni+ersities cold i+e a damn a#ot yor credentials to them yo nothin more then

the re%se %rom their lorios +ictory Bt 4incoln needs yo as mch as yo need them

Hibbert

Bein a 8e& does not seem to ha+e hrt yo in this contryEinstein

6Beat7 $ith all de candor ! am Al#ert Einstein and yo are ,i##ert $eiss $e mst li+e

in that reality

Hibbert

6Long pause.7 $hen &old they &ant me to start

Einstein

!3m not sre The ni+ersity


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6he turns to leave the room7 0o "no& that he is on the telephone ! .st hope that

he is not phonin lon distance

Einstein

,e is #t do not &orry a#ot it Mish"a ! am sre that the Doctor is ood %or it

Mishka

,e cold #e callin Bialastoc" %or all &e "no&

Einstein

Mish"a his hat and coat please

Mishka

,mp% 6he begins to e#it7 Oh also that %loppy #oy has arri+ed ,e is in the #ac"

sha"in o%% the sno& %rom his #oots

EinsteinMish"a ! ha+e told yo pre+ios he is not a #oy ,e is my radate stdent Mr

Dreschler Mr Dreschler

Mishka

! sppose $ell Mr Dreschler has arri+ed 6Hibbert enters7

Hibbert

The


12/69

! "no& Mr Dreschler and ! appreciate yor assistance This is Dr $eiss he &ill #e

accompanyin yo to the train station Mr *o#eson3s train shold #e in #y the time yo

arri+e 0es Mr Dreschler 6/r. 0eiss puts on his 1acket, scarf and hat7

Hibbert

Than"s aain pro%essor

Einstein

!ndeed >ood lc" ,i##ert 6/r. 0eiss and &r. /reschler e#it out the front door7

Mish"a do not %oret to chec" on or est in the #ac"

Mishka

! &ill chec" on the rand dame ! thin" she is still ta"in her #eaty nap

Einstein

! thin" ! &ill ta"e a short cat nap mysel% #e%ore or ests arri+eMishka

>ood 0o need to rest 0o loo" a raed

Einstein

*aed as opposed to &hat the splendid pictre o% health that ! al&ays loo" li"e 6He

laughs and crouches down in his chair to take his nap. Lights fade to black7

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13/69

ACT ONE/SCENE T,*EE

(The Porter enters into the storage room with a plate in his hands. The plate hasa napkin over the top of it)

The Porter

Dinner is ser+ed 6Robeson is laying on a small pallet resting7

Robeson

0es indeed 6Robeson opens his eyes and sits up7 !t smells &onder%l

The Porter

$e pinched it %rom the dinner car they %eeds to the &hite %ol" and not the %at #ac" and

tails they deals ot to the colored passener car

Robeson

! appreciate that 6Robeson begins to eat voraciously7

The Porter

$ell sir !3m o%% %or the niht so ! ess !3ll lea+es yo to it

Robeson

No no please sit &ith me 0o don3t ha+e to lea+e

The Porter

0es sir 6The Porter loosens up the collar of his uniform7 The cold is sho3ll n%% "ic"in3

p %ierce ain3t it

Robeson

62ontinuing to eat7 !t is

The Porter


14/69

The Porter

0o %rom arond these parts

Robeson

eores All he care :#ot is that &hite money in the %ront car

Robeson

0eah

The Porter

That3s &hy s >eores ha+e to ma"e de 6He smiles a mischievous smile. He reaches

inside his 1acket and produces a small metal flask.7 8st a little somethin to %iht o%% the

chill $old yo li"e a #elt

Robeson

No no This pipin hot %ood is enoh to &arm my #elly %or a #it

The Porter

6The Porter takes a hard swig out of the flask7 0o mind i% ! as" yo a ;estion

Robeson

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15/69

>o ahead

The Porter

$ell ! .st can3t %ire &hy a man o% yor yo "no& &old #e &ell

Robeson

*idin in the #ac" &ith the caro

The Porter

0eah ! mean ! "no& yo dn %ell on toh times &ith all that commnist nonGsense #t

its hard to %ire thins dn ot that #ad that yo can3t &ranle a tic"et in the colored

#aae car

Robeson

6He laughs7 To the contrary my %riend !n %act ! had to pay that condctor o% yors

e@tra to #n" #ac" hereThe Porter

0o are a pecliar nia Mr *o#eson

Robeson

That ! am that ! am 6Robeson stands up7 ! ess it3s a hard thin to e@plain #t li"e

yo said its #een a roh road %or me lately 6He walks toward the front of the stage and

peers out into the audience7

The Porter

$hat them &hite %ol"s did to yo &as a scandal

Robeson

!3m se to the &hite esta#lishment pondin me do&n li"e a nail that decided to stic" p

ot o% the &ood Sometimes ! thin" that is the reason that >od pt &hite people on the

Earth in the %irst place they don3t #other me anymore !t3s or people that tro#le my

sol !ts my o&n that trned their #ac" on me 6He turns and looks toward the Porter7 !

"no& that yo3+e read those articles a#ot me in the #lac" ne&spapers !3m #ac" here

#ecase ! .st don3t &ant to #e arond too many people #lac" or &hite

The Porter

That so

Robeson

0es ! am a pariah to my o&n people

The Porter

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16/69

A& man yo ain3t no &hat &s that &ord

Robeson

eores don3t "no& ho&

to read let alone doin on dey o%% time

Robeson

And

The Porter

And it is easier to hddle amonst the common %ol" then them hih tone hih #read

%ol" dat thin" yo as lo& as &e are

Robeson

4o&er

The Porter

All that commnism #siness done tarred yo %or li%e 4east so yo thin"

Robeson

! "no&

The Porter

A& man this thin is on #lo& o+er sre enoh And all them Neroes &ill #e #ac"

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17/69

Robeson

From yor lips 6The Porter takes a hard pull off of his flask7

The Porter

! s&ear p at one o% them #i time collees they need to create a s#.ect a#ot #ein a

colored ! s&ear !3d %i@ mysel% to et #ac" to my schoolin .st to ta"e p the corse

Robeson

Coloredoloy 11

The Porter

0eah ! li"e that 6Laughs7 Coloredoloy 11 and


18/69

*There is a knock at the door and +instein rouses from his sleep, &ishka entersthe stage and walks toward the door.

Mishka

! &ill et it

Einstein

No do not #other Mish"a ! &ill et it 6+instein slowly stands to answer the door7

Mishka

Nonsense yo sit and rest ! &ill et it

Einstein

! am not dead yet ! thin" that ! can na+iate the physical rior o% ans&erin a door

Mishka

2tter nonsense 6he walks over to the door and opens it. " gust of snow and windrushes inside and standing in doorway is a tall imposing figure wearing a stylish hat and

matching dark overcoat. He is wrapped in a long flowing scarf. &ishka helps the older

man in who begins to unravel as he enters the house. The man begins to speak7

Dubois

! am too damned old to #e tra+elin in this &eather

Einstein

!s that a #lstery &inter &ind #lo&in throh my %ront door or is that a &orld %amos

aitator

Dubois

A little #it o% #oth ! am a%raid ,o& are yo Al#ert

Einstein

$illiam come in come in


19/69

4oo" at yo old man $hy yo loo" positi+ely yoth%l

Einstein

And yo3re a liar Bt ! appreciate the deceit ! loo" a#ot as ood as ! %eel 6/ubois

smiles broadly7

Dubois

!3+e missed yo

Einstein

And ! yo my %riend 6&ishka reenters the room and she is carrying tea and a saucer

for /ubois. he sits it ne#t to /ubois on a small end table ne#t to his chair.7

Mishka

0or tea Mr D#ois !% yo need anythin else do not hesitate to impose pon me

yo certainly ha+e ne+er %ailed to impose in the pastEinstein

Mish"a ! #elie+e that yo are #ein +ery rde to or est

Mishka

!% yo &ill e@cse me ! mst chec" on the chic"en so that ! do not o+er coo" it 6he

abruptly e#its the room7

Dubois

$as it somethin ! said

Einstein

No not at all

Dubois

! do not thin" that that &oman li"es Neroes

Einstein

Don3t not start $illiam

Dubois

Start &hat

Einstein

0or Nero paranoia

Dubois

!t3s not paranoia i% it3s tre

Einstein

1


20/69

*emem#er the last time yo accsed someone o% not li"in yo #ecase yo &ere a

Nero The chap in Ne& 0or"

Dubois

! do

Einstein

That person &as a Nero $illiam

Dubois

She i+es me a side&ards lare e+ery time i% +isit ! am tellin yo that &oman does not

li"e me

Einstein

Do not #e silly that &oman does not li"e anyone

Dubois E@cept yo

Einstein

$ell ! am a cddly %ello& .st as" anyone

Dubois

! am sorry that ! &as late

Einstein

!3m sre rent #siness "ept yo

Dubois

!ndeed 6Beat7 Did yo hear a#ot the yon man in >eoria

Einstein

0es

Dubois

6He leans forward7 Sono%a#itch They lynched him in his medals ,o& Trman cold sit

arond &hile 2nited States ser+icemen are tareted and mrdered and not #rin

.stice Nero or not

Einstein

Easy $illiam easy $e &ill ma"e the case Trman &ill ma"e the riht decision ,e

simply &ill ha+e no other choice The contry has #ecome nhined

Dubois

Become nhined ! thin" this contry &as #irthed into madness

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Einstein

6Pause7 So yo #roht it

Dubois

O% corse ! &old not ha+e +entred to the North


22/69

!t is !t is almost complete it simply needs a t&ea" here and there

Einstein

A t&ea" here and there 0o came this %ar %or a t&ea" ! am the lc"y one

Dubois

!3m an old man Al#ert 0o "no& ! loo" %or an reason %or one more ad+entre one

more .orney

Einstein

O% corse

Dubois

The docment is secondary any&ay !t3s the march that &ill #e the cro&nin e+ent o%

this mo+ement

Einstein! am loo"in %or&ard to this march

Dubois

So yo &ill #e attendin

Einstein

O% corse &hy &oldn3t !

Dubois

! don3t "no& ! .st thoht

Einstein

Thoht &hat

Dubois

Nothin

Einstein

0es ! e+en prchased a ne& pair o% leather shoes %or the &al"in

Dubois

The &al"in a&" ! am not loo"in %or&ard to all the &al"in to #e completely honest

Einstein

Anythin o% +ale is &orth the tro#le and e%%ort to secre it

Dubois

Easy &ords comin %rom a yon sprot sch as yo 6They both laugh7

Einstein

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23/69

>o on no&

Dubois

,ey in this room ! am the old man

Einstein

>o on no& yo don3t loo" a day o+er se+enty

Dubois

T&o old relics attemptin to shape the %tre ,o& ridiclos hh

Einstein

! ha+e no a#ility to di+ine the %tre it is the present that concerns me crrently No

loner can concerned men remain silent

Dubois

Spo"en li"e a tre radicalEinstein

Spo"en li"e a mad scientist so the papers say 6They both laugh7

Dubois

6He reaches into his satchel and produces a document7 ,ere is the initial dra%t o% the

petition to Trman

Einstein

$hat are the chances that the


24/69

Einstein

This miht #e smart Trman &as a soldier perhaps the isse o% these soldiers &ho ha+e

increasinly come nder attac" miht spar" some sense o% #rotherhood &ithin him

Addressin these lynchins is his responsi#ility- prodcts o% his per%ect &ar

Dubois

6He crosses back to his chair7 Don3t start Al#ert

Einstein

! am simply sayin this &ar has #eet more o% the same

Dubois

Are &e oin to start this arment aain

Einstein

No arments .st di+erent points o% +ie&Dubois

! am not &ithot perspecti+e ! "no& &hat the &ar meant and contines to mean to yo

and yor people

Einstein

Bt still yo %ind +ale in that &ar

Dubois

,itler had to #e de%eated

Einstein

O% corse Bt 0or romantici5in o% it oes %ar deeper than the e@plsion o% a petty

dictator

Dubois

!t does 0o see %or s the Nero this &ar &as an opportnity 6hort pause7 !

nderstand &hy yo miht %eel the &ay that yo do This &ar throh 8e&ish eyes mst

seem li"e the heiht o% e+il

Einstein

Throh 8e&ish eyes Are there any other eyes throh &hich to +ie& the massacre o%

millions

Dubois

There are three dimensions to e+er o#.ect old %riend 0o "no& that #etter than most

9?


25/69

0a see Al#ert &e are &itness to a miraclos trans%ormation o% the li"es not seen in or

time The &ar this a&%l thin it &as a a sort o% portal &ay %or the Nero

Einstein

,o& so $illiam

Dubois

$hen those Neroes came #ac" %rom the Eropean theater in their ni%orms some o%

them &ith medals on their chest They &ere not the same men &ho le%t the little to&ns

and hamlets that prodced them They &ere some ho& chaned Nero #t not

Nero A ne& Nero i% yo &ill That3s &hat all this lynchin nonsense is a#ot that3s

&hat there a%raid o% Neroes &ith a sdden in%sion o% a &orld +ie& !t &as the &ar

that made that possi#le

Einstein6Long pause7 O"ay ! .st hope that the si@ million &ashed a&ay li"e a tide &ere &orth the

price o% the tic"et And let s not %oret that it &as yo that opined that the Nero shold

shel+es his Ci+il *ihts o#.ecti+es in this contry and concentrate instead on #ein ood

Americans

Dubois

And &hat is that spposed to mean

Einstein

!t means that nothin is %or %ree The portal yo tal" a#ot %or the Nero is lined &ith the

#ones o% the dead #lac" and 8e&ish ali"e Ne+er %oret that $illiam ne+er ne+er %oret

#t lets not &aste or time in old arments lets do &hat &e al&ays do

Dubois and Einstein

Aree to disaree

Dubois

My only reret is that ! am not yoner This &orld it is chanin #loomin into

somethin nseen #e%ore 62ough7 ! &ish ! &as a#le to taste the %reedom that is comin

Einstein

$e &ill #e lon in or ra+e #e%ore the Nero is #esto&ed the %reedom o&ed him

Dubois

And ! "no& it

Einstein

9


26/69

!s that reret ! hear in yo +oice Old men shold not &ant past the time they are i+en

Dubois

Easily said #y a man &ho is allo&ed to en.oy the %ll e@tent o% his %reedom ! am not the

cele#rated scholar &ith ;aint mercrial &ays ! am the aitator &ho some #elie+e &orthy

o% death

Einstein

Sel%Gpity A&&& $illiam do not #e so clichI $hat are yo %rihtened o%- ho& &ell

yor leacy &ill &ear perhaps

Dubois

4eacy To hell &ith my leacy ! am ali+e no& Today is my leacy ! &ant to #e heard

Einstein

The reat minds &ill &ant to hear yo Those &ho attend this march &ant to hear yoDubois

No they don3t E+en many Neroes ha+e trned a&ay %rom me ! am passI A &al"in

state 0o are still rele+ant at the heiht o% yor po&er A leend in yor o&n time !

am a memory that &ill not %ade

Einstein

0o nder +ale yorsel% the yon people &ill &ant to hear yo

Dubois

Nonsense

Einstein

No it is tre

Dubois

6/ubois reaches into his pocket and produces a coin and slams it down on the table in

front of +instein7 That Al#ert that is &hat they &ant That is the leacy that &ill

endre 6"lbert picks up the coin and then reaches for the glasses around his neck. He

gingerly snugs the glasses to his face and studies the coin7

Einstein

Ahhh so ! see &hat has yo tied in so many "nots

Dubois

The %irst The a#solte %irst Nero e+er in the history o% this nation to #e immortali5ed

on a coin

9


27/69

Einstein

,a+e yo not yet made peace &ith the Memory o% Boo"er T

Dubois

Don3t start that shit Al#ert don3t start don3t start 0o ha+e al&ays de%ended him 0o

didn3t "no&

Einstein

Do yo hear yorsel% Trly do yo hear yorsel% $illiam

Dubois

! do not ha+e to

Einstein

Sht p $illiam .st sht p as the yon people li"e to say 0o are an old man

ro& p 0o are one o% the most accomplished men ! "no& 0o are also a leend inyor o&n time and yo &aste precios moments arin &ith hosts Boo"er T

$ashinton is thirty years in his ra+e let him rest 4et his memory rest 6+instein slings

the coin over to /ubois7 $ho cares i% Boo"er T $ashinton3s %ace is on a coin !s that

&hat yo &ant !% so o home

Dubois

!t is not a#ot that it is a#ot &hat &e lea+e #ehind

Einstein

Oh oodness &hat sort o% da%t %ool are yo leacies mean little 4i"e yo said yo are

ali+e no& that is &hat matters &hat &e do riht no& There is serios &or" to #e

done Bra+e strides that mst #e ta"en #t that cannot #e accomplished #y old men &ho

are so concerned a#ot ho& they die that they cannot %ocs on ho& others are %orced to

li+e

Dubois

Do not lectre me Do yo cont me a %ool #ecase yo do not ha+e the %oresiht to loo"

to the %tre

Einstein

! ha+e no need to thin" too %ar into the %tre For me it is comin soon enoh

Dubois

6Pinter pause7 0eah

Einstein

9


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29/69

$illiam $illiam there are so many other #etter reasons to disli"e yo a#sent yor

Neroness 6There is a long pause as the two men stare eye to eye. They both break out

into laughter7 Mish"a Mish"a 6&ishka reenters the room7 ! am sch a rde host

Cold yo chec" on Marian see i% she needs anythin 6&ishka e#its the stage and we

hear the sound of a door opening and from out of the door we hear a massive operatic

voice booming onto the stage7

Anderson

Need somethin No all ! need is silence and to #e le%t alone please 60e hear the door

slam7

Dubois

Marian

Einstein0es she is practicin in my stdy %or a per%ormance tomorro& niht

Dubois

Marian Marian &ho

Einstein

Anderson Marian Anderson

Dubois

Marian Anderson The opera siner

Einstein

No $illiam Marian Anderson the trc" dri+er

Dubois

$ell Al#ert !3ll #e

Einstein

Do not #e silly she is stayin in one o% the est rooms

Dubois

And &hy is she stayin here at all

Einstein

Becase this is


30/69

$ell aren3t yo a sel%less sort *escin Nero damsels in distress

Einstein

! am .st a spporter o% her &onder%l talents

Dubois

0o sre it3s her talents that interest yo and not her hemline

Einstein

Oh stop it ! am old enoh to #e her rand%ather

Dubois

!nteration one #lac" &omen at a time eh Al#ert 6He laughs7

Einstein

$e are old men

DuboisThere are some thins a#ot men that ne+er et old

Einstein

One day ! &ill de+elop a %ormla to cae that li#ido o% yors

Dubois

Ne+er

Einstein

My interest in Ms Anderson is innocent ! assre yo

Dubois

!% yo say so

Einstein

! say so 6Beat7 Can &e et #ac" to &or" no&

Dubois

Alriht alriht 6He reaches into the attach3 at his feet7 ,ere are some o% the cases that

&e ha+e collected in reards to lynchin The ;estion is ho& mch o% the actal case

in%ormation do &e &ant to inclde in the petition Or shold &e o %or a #roader stro"e

tal" a#ot the isse enerally ! opt %or the #roader stro"es this is not .st a#ot one

mrder This is Ci+il *ihts isse Social .stice

Einstein

! &old ha+e to aree ! &old pre%er not to ha+e the petition trn into a list o% traic

e+ents Bt ! do not &ant to shy a&ay %rom the reality o% mrder either

=


31/69


32/69

(Robeson is facing out to the audience)

Robeson

Do yo "no& anythin a#ot lynchin

The Porter

!3m a colored that re& p in sothern Ohio .st across the ri+er %rom Hentc"y ,ell

!3m damn near an e@pert

Robeson

Across the ri+er %rom Hentc"y

The Porter

0eah &here ! come %rom colored dn seen their share o% men dancin at the end o% a

strin 8st a %act o% li%e

RobesonThat3s the one o% the reason that !3m oin #ac" to


33/69

!t ma"es all the sense in the &orld $e can3t %iht the insanity o% racism &ith the same

insanity $e can3t see people as &hite men and #lac" men #t as men Not all &hite men

spport this yo"e o% oppression that has %ashioned arond or nec"s

The Porter

0or a %ool That Missori mle in the &hite hose don3t cotton to nias no more than

some hill .ac" in Ala#ama

Robeson

! thin" he can #e s&ayed

The Porter

S&ayed to do &hat

Robeson

S&ayed to #ecome in+ol+ed s&ayed to pass antiGlynchin leislationThe Porter

4i"e a #ill or smthin

Robeson

0es

The Porter

All that %oot#all yo played as a yonin3 dn so%tened yo3 #rain Ain3t no piece o% paper

dra&n ot o% $ashinton on matter &orth a damn in some %ield in >eoria Can &rite

all the #ills yo &ant #t as lon as sothern crac"ers control the corts and the police

none o% it on mean a damn thin 0o mean &ell #t so does a .ac" ass 4i"e ! said

#e%ore !3m damn near an e@pert &hen it come to lynchin &hite %ol" too Ain3t no paper

can chane a thin See this hear ame le ! dra arond

Robeson

!t3s a reminder o% ho& thins &or" in this &orld Mr *o#eson

The Porter

Bac" &hen ! &as a yon man ! learned the lesson 0eah see ! &as in Ala#ama to see

:#ot my mama She &as li+in &ith %amily do&n that &ay and her health too" a trn

$hile ! &as do&n there a #oy #y the name o% $illie


34/69

li+ed in the %lats &old ha+e to see him A lesson a messae li"e this here ame le o%

mine They &anted him to s&in there in the pass rotten ser+in as a meal %or %lies and

maots And here is the .o"e Mr *o#eson- those #astards done mrdered so many o%

s in the soth that a sort o% &ay o% doin thans de+eloped See &hen a nia et hn

those that hn they don3t .st &ant yo to ct him do&n so that yo can i+e him a

Christian #rial no sir They &ant him to s&in they &ant the messae to et sent So i%

yo are a %amily mem#er o% dem that ot hn yo otta let :em han a&hile So yo

ha+e to %ire &hen yo can ct him do&n :case i% yo ct him do&n too soon then yo

&ill aner the men that strn him p in the %irst place 6Long pause7 ! "no& this :case

! made this mista"e once Too" a ra5or and sliced do&n the rope then a rop o% men

too" that same ra5or and sliced me Ct open my tendon le%t me ho##led %or li%e So yes

Mr *o#eson ! ess yo can say that ! "no& somethin3 a#ot lynchin ! "no& enohto #e a#le to tell yo &ithot %ear o% contradiction that ain3t no piece o% paper issed ot

o% $ashinton on mean anythin &ith the sn sets on dem sothern nihts 0o miht

ass &ell #e tal"in into the #ac" side o% an ass

Robeson

Then &hat hh Then &hat Sholdn3t &e at least try ,h And i% &e don3t then

&hat !3m so %ar in the md ! can3t e+en %ire ot &hat the ;estions are letslone comin

p &ith ans&ers ! don3t "no& ! .st don3t "no&

Robeson

! can3t lea+e it there ! .st can3t lea+e it there

The Porter

! "no& Mr *o#eson ! "no& That3s &hat ma"es yo &ho yo are There3s al&ays otta

#e those that dream thins that can3t #e seen yet #t it ain3t on help me Ain3t on

help them nias do&n there in the &or" car .a& .ac"in and playin cards &aitin %or

&hite people to rin a #ell so &e can scrry on do&n and ser+e :em The &orld can3t

chane ;ic" enoh to ma"e #lac" people not hate yo %or &hat the &hite %ol"s don said

Robeson

For the race some o% s ha+e responsi#ilities

The Porter

And some o% s ha+e .o#s 6Robeson laughs7

Robeson

=?


35/69

8o#s

The Porter

Don3t mind me Mr *o#eson #een schleppin this #as so lon !3m hal% cra5y any&ay

Robeson

0eah 0o still ha+e that %las" 6The Porter quietly hands the flask over to Robeson.

Robeson takes a huge gulp from the flask7 0es yes indeed That does ta"e o%% the ede

doesn3t it 6" train whistle sounds.7

The Porter

This is yor stop Mr *o#eson 6Robeson starts out at the audience and seems to be deep

in thought. uddenly he breaks from his trance7

Robeson

0es yes it is 6He gathers his things and begins to button his collar7The Porter

! #ess et to ettin ! otta rose mysel% in the mornin 6He stands up and begins to

e#it7 0o &ant me to help yo &ith that #a

Robeson

No sir 6Long pause7 Bt yo can tell me yor name

The Porter

! told yo can call me

Robeson

0eah yeah ! "no& #t ! mean yor real name

The Porter

Not sre that my name matters mch

Robeson

!t al&ays matters

The Porter

My name is Fests $at"ins $as a time they called me Fests the >reat #t that3s a lon

time one no&

Robeson

$ell it &as a pleasre to tal" &ith yo Mr Fests $at"ins

The Porter

=


36/69

And yo Mr *o#eson and yo 64estus e#its the stage. Robeson smiles and puts on his

hat and begins to sing, 5/i#ieland6 as he e#its the stage.

Robeson

O ! &ish ! &as in the land o% cotton

Old times there are not %orotten

4oo" a&ayK 4oo" a&ayK

4oo" a&ayK Di@ie 4and

!n Di@ie 4and &here ! &as #orn in

Early on one %rosty mornin'

4oo" a&ayK 4oo" a&ayK

4oo" a&ayK Di@ie 4and

O ! &ish ! &as in Di@ieK

,oorayK ,oorayK

!n Di@ie 4and !'ll ta"e my stand

To li+e and die in Di@ie

A&ay a&ay

A&ay do&n soth in Di@ieK

6The lights fade to black.7

ACT ONE/SCENE S!L

(/ubois enters the room and begins to look around. He e#pects to see +instein inthe chair from the previous scene. +instein is not there. /ubois then begins towander around the living room. He walks over to +instein%s briefcase and amedal catches his eye. He fingers the medallion and holds it up and begins tostudy)

Mishka

! remem#er him in all his lory in Stoc"holm &hen he &on it

Dubois

The No#le


37/69

Dubois

$here is he

Mishka

! con+inced him to retire to his room to contine his nap ntil Mr *o#eson arri+es

Sleepin in this chair is not ood %or his #ac" yo &old thin" that a man o% his intellect

&old ha+e to #e told this

Dubois

0o ta"e care o% him

Mishka

,e is a ood man a "ind man

Dubois

,e is a reat man A leendMishka

,e is a man Flesh and #one ,e is not some ,#erGman yo "no& $hen no one is

arond ! &atch him strle .st to &al"- la#orin .st to stand Bt yet they come

As"in Dr Einstein Dr Einstein &e need yo &e need yo The #ones in his "nees

clic" Did yo "no& that ,is eyesiht has ro&n so &ea" that he can #arely read 0et

he sits in that chair and trns the paes as i% he can still see them And old man carryin

ot ritals o% his yoth 0et they come Dr Einstein spea" here Dr Einstein lectre

there ,e is shrin"in #y the day &hen is enoh is enoh Mr D#ois ,o& mch is

enoh

Dubois

Or strle is %rom the cradle to the ra+e yon lady

Mishka

0or strle Mr D#ois yor strle $hat a#ot an old man3s strle to .st dra&

#reath 6Long beat7 ,e is not &ell

Dubois

! "no& ! heard he &as &as not &ell

Mishka

6Beat7 ,e is not .st nder the &eather can yo not see that Or has yor case #linded

yo to e+erythin

Dubois

=


38/69

0o do not li"e Neroes

Mishka

! do not li"e yo

Dubois

Becase ! am Nero

Mishka

Becase yo are a child

Dubois

A child ho& dare

Mishka

0o thin" yo &ill recei+e %reedom #ecase yo personally &ant it Freedom does

not &or" in sch &aysDubois

0o ha+e not cle &hat ! "no& yon lady yo no cle o% oppression and &hat it

does to ho& it distorts Freedom is e+ery#ody3s case

Mishka

6Pinter pause7 ! &atched as the Na5is lined p the men in my +illae anyone &ho cold

#e a threat and shot them Do yo &ish to "no& Mr D#ois &hat they did &ith the

&omen and irls The screams the horror No one marched %or s And &hen the

>erman #oot on the nec" o% my people &as replaced #y a *ssian one still no one

marched $hat has #een done to the Nero is terri#le #t ! learned the &orld &or"s in

sch &ays One #ro"en do&n scientist &on3t matter either &ay

Dubois


39/69

ma.ority o% yor li%e is #ehind yo ! "no& a#ot crea"in #ones &hen yor closest to

death that is &hen yo need to li+e the most 6Beat7 And #esides ! "no& that he is not

&ell ! cold ha+e sent these docments #y messener and had him re+ie& them Bt !

&anted to see my old %riend i% only %or a day or t&o


40/69

Anderson

0es ! &ill #e sinin %or a charity that !3m %ond o% in Fair%ield

Dubois

! had planned to lea+e in the mornin #t perhaps ! &ill e@tend my stay so that ! can see

the leendary Marian Anderson sin aain

Anderson

Oh stop it Dr D#ois

Dubois

! ha+e learned to en.oy the simple thins in li%e The ma.esty o% #irds in %liht the simple

.oy o% a snny day 6+instein enters7

Einstein

The a&esome &eiht o% horse manreAnderson

Al#ert yo3re p ! hope &e did not &a"e yo 6he rises and walks over to help

+instein over to the chair in which she was previously sitting.7

Einstein

No no no &a"in me &hen ! am sleepin is li"e &a"in the dead So &hat &ere &e

tal"in a#ot art literatre politics

Anderson

Dr D#ois &as .st sharin his appreciation o% msic

Einstein

!ndeed My %riend is a renaissance man

Anderson

$ell entleman ! &ill lea+e yo to yor o&n de+ices ! ha+e to %inish rehearsin in my

room !% yo &ill e@cse me

Dubois

O% corse

Einstein

Certainly 6he stands up and begins to e#it7

Anderson


41/69

Certainly my dear 6he e#its7 Appreciatin her msic hh ! am sre that is not all Dr

D#ois &as appreciatin

Dubois

No& Al#ert yo "no& me #etter than that

Einstein

0es yes ! do 0or incorrii#le

Dubois

Till they plop me in the ra+e 6/ubois smiles a big grin. The lights fade to black7

Interission

ACT T$O/SCENE ONE

(The scene opens and "lbert +instein is sitting at a desk and is intently writing.tanding behind him is /ubois who is speaking passionately)

Dubois

And these are the demands o% or petitions

Einstein

No no no that doesn3t &or"

Dubois

0eah doesn3t ha+e the rin &e3re oin %or

Einstein

To cstodial

Dubois

0es

Einstein

More netral

Dubois

6/ubois begins to stroke his beard7 2hhh And these are the TENENTS o% or

petition

Einstein

Better Better Shall &e inclde the data &e athered %or this section

Dubois

?1


42/69

No ! &old sest that &e do an o+er+ie& throh this part 6There is a knock at the

door7

Einstein

Mish"aKKK 6&ishka hurries into the room7

Mishka

!3m comin !3m comin

Einstein

There is someone at the door

Mishka

As i% ! did not ha+e enoh to do 6he walks over to the door and answers it. The door

flies open and the big booming voice of Robeson enters before the man. Robeson enters

with his arms wide open.7Robeson

$ay do&n pon the S&anee *i+er

Far %ar a&ay

That's &here my heart is trnin e+er

That's &here the old %ol"s stay

All p and do&n the &hole creation

Sadly ! roam

Still lonin %or the old plantation

And %or the old %ol"s at home

Einstein


43/69

$hen ! &as playin &ith my #rother

,appy &as !

Oh ta"e me to my "ind old mother

There let me li+e and die

All the &orld is sad and dreary e+ery&here ! roam

Oh mama ho& my heart ro&s &eary

Far %rom the old %ol"s at home

One little ht amon the #shes

One that ! lo+e

Still sadly to my mem'ry rshesNo matter &here ! ro+e

$hen shall ! see the #ees a hmmin

All 'rond the com#

$hen shall ! hear the #an.o strmmin

Do&n #y my ood old home

All the &orld is sad and dreary e+ery&here ! roam

Oh mama ho& my heart ro&s &eary

Far %rom the old %ol"s at home 6+instein and /ubois begin to wildly applaud.7

Mishka

! &old as" to ta"e yor coat #t ! am a%raid yo &old #rea" into son aain 6&ishka

e#its Robeson walks over and hugs +instein7

Einstein

0o "no& ho& mch ! lo+e that son

Robeson

Only %or yo Al#ert only %or yo ! hate that oddamned racist son Bt %or yo there is

nothin ! &on3t spare

Einstein


44/69

Robeson

6He laughs7 ,o& ha+e yo #een Al#ert

Einstein

That seems to #e the ;estion o% the day

Robeson

A ;estion yo ha+e yet to ans&er

Einstein

6Long pause. +instein smiles7 ! am &ell enoh to reet an old %riend $ho cold as"

%or more than that

Dubois

$ell enoh to reet an old %riend 0o and those oddamned riddles !t3s enoh to

dri+e me mad ,o& are yo doin


45/69

Dubois

reat

Einstein


46/69

Einstein

Heep yor +oice do&n

Robeson

Heep my +oice do&n %or &hat

Einstein

She miht hear yo

Robeson

,ear me

Dubois

0es Mr Emc9 o+er here has her stashed in one o% his #ac" rooms

Robeson

Anderson3s hereDubois

!n the %lesh

Robeson

$hat is Marian Anderson doin here

Dubois

That is &hat !3+e #een as"in the mad scientist

Einstein

She is .st a %riend

Robeson

No Al#ert ! am .st a %riend $ith a &oman yo are ne+er .st a %riend

Dubois

Especially &hen she loo"s li"e that

Robeson

! once &or"ed &ith her in


47/69

Robeson

That sonds li"e its comin %rom a man &ho "no&s

Einstein

The t&o o% yo ! s&ear yo are almost too mch to ta"e

Dubois

Come on no& yo "no& s Neroes are natrally hot #looded 0o can march yorsel%

into that anthropoloy department at


48/69


49/69

Einstein

!ncorrii#le 6The both smile and drink their brandy. The lights fade to black.7

ACT T$O/SCENE T$O

(Robeson is looking out at the crowd and he is smoking a cigarette. 4rom behindhim &ishka enters the stage he is wearing a sweater)

Robeson

! see yo3+e #een cast ot as &ell %or enain in this nasty +ice

Mishka

$hat is this yo say

Robeson

The smo"in

Mishka

Oh 0es !3+e #een smo"in since ! &as a irl

?


50/69

Robeson

The pro%essor does not "no& ! only do it on occasions Drin times o% stress


51/69

Mishka

6Pause7 The list is %ar too lon Mr *o#eson

Robeson

$ho

Mishka

Do ! "no& yo

Robeson

No

Mishka

Then &hy &old !

Robeson

Becase ! as"edMishka

So yo are cra5y man

Robeson

That3s &hat they say

Mishka

The &orld is %illed &ith cra5y men

Robeson

Cra5y &orld

Mishka

0es

Robeson

0o still ha+en3t ans&ered my ;estion

Mishka

estion

Robeson

0es

Mishka

$hat ;estion

Robeson

$ho hrt yo

1


52/69


53/69

Robeson

0o sr+i+ed

Mishka

No ! did not

Robeson

Mish"a

Mishka

There is nothin le%t o% that happy little irl named Mish"a $hat ot draed ot o%

that horri#le place cold hardly #e called hman And &hat remains can hardly #e called

Mish"a ! am a &hisper a rmor a shado& on the &all

Robeson

This pain this is &hy yo don3t li"e msic anymoreMishka

0es

Robeson

Becase o% the camps

Mishka

! &as #eati%l once

Robeson

Beaty is

Robeson

!n that &ay that only a yon irl can #e By the time me and my sister >irda &ere

herded into the camp my parents &ere dead !t &as only s She &as my older sister My

protector She &old sin to me E+en as they ct or hair She &old sin to me

Sons my %ather &old sin 6Pause7 My yoth caht the eye o% one o% the ards

! didn3t "no& at %irst ! hadn3t yet learned to reconi5e that loo" in the eye o% a man !

didn3t "no& &hat it meant to #e a sheep in the a5e o% a &ol%


54/69


55/69

ACT T$O/SCENE T,*EE

(/ubois enters walks over to the chair opposite Robeson7

DuboisMish"a i+in yo a hard time

Robeson

0eah .st i+in me the Bles

Dubois

She3s o"ay .st o+erGprotecti+e o% Al#ert

Robeson

0eah aren3t &e all

Dubois

! lad yo cold come !t3s ood to see yo ! &as &orried a#ot yo &ith all the

yo "no& press and sch

Robeson

No need to &orry ! can3t #e #ro"en 0o "no& that

Dubois

O% corse

Robeson

,o& lon yo stayin

Dubois

!3m on my &ay ot the door as &e spea" ! ha+e #siness in Ne& 0or" the edits to the

petition ha+e #een made So the only thin to do no& is say my ood#yes and #e o%%

Robeson


56/69

0or oin to deli+er the ne& dra%t o% the petition in person

Dubois

0es

Robeson

The &orld3s most edcated corier

Dubois

Somethin li"e that 6Pause7 ,e3s not &ell ya no&

Robeson

! "no&

Dubois

No ! mean he is really not &ell 6Robeson stands up and faces out to the audience7

Robeson! "no& 0o thin" ! tre""ed all the &ay p here %or my health There are %e& thins that

cold dra me #ac" to his hell hole in the middle o% a damned #li55ard 6Pause7 ! "no&

that he that he is not &ell ! &as in Madrid and &hen ! ot &ord that he &as not

&ell ! &as o+ercome &ith the stronest %eelin to see him 0a "no& li"e it miht #e

Dubois

This isn3t one o% yor stae plays


57/69


58/69

Paul

Already &ritin yor speech ! see 6Pause7 And &hat a#ot my speech 6Long pause.

There is a glaring silence from /ubois7 ,as the &ordsmith one silent on me

Dubois

$ell


59/69


60/69

Dubois


61/69

!% yo mst 6Pause7 8st ma"e sre to stand in the #ac" A&ay %rom the cameras

Paul

Anythin else Dr D#ois

Dubois

No& &hat yo mention it yes >et a ne& sit man 0o loo" li"e a doc" &or"er on his

&ay to Snday Ser+ice

Paul

0o say that as i% it is a #ad thin Sayin ! loo" li"e a &or"in man is a compliment !t3s

alriht to occpy the same space as those &retches &e claim to lead yo "no&

Dubois

*ed riht do&n to the marro& eh


62/69

Robeson

Did yo hear &hat Dr D#ois &as sayin

Marian

!3m not an ea+esdropper ! mean ! may ha+e heard a &ord or t&o

Robeson

So ho& mch did yo hear

Marian

6Pause7 The &hole damned thin The t&o o% yo in here #ello&in li"e #earcats ! &as

a%raid to step in here ! thoht ! miht et some macho man .ice on my shoes

Robeson

$ell

Marian$ell &hat

Robeson

Do yo thin" he3s riht

Marian


63/69

A relar ypsy

Robeson

May#e yo can i+e me a little pri+ate concert #e%ore ! o

Marian

!3m not sre yo deser+e a concert


64/69

No no

0o call that a sister

No no

0o call that a sister

No no

Scandali5e my name

! met my preacher the other day

And a+e him my riht hand

As soon as e+er my #ac" &as trned

,e too scandali5ed my name

No& do yo call that reliion

No no

0o call that reliion

No no

0o call that reliion

No no

Scandali5e my name 6Paul stands7up and begins to applaud. he walks over to Paul

and kisses her him on the head. /reschler and /ubois enter the room.7

Dreschler

The car is ready Ms Anderson Mr D#ois

Dubois

0es or coach is ready ood lady

Robeson

,e3s in the #ed he &asn3t %eelin too &ell $hen ! le%t his room Mish"a &as porin

some mystical Eropean cre do&n his throat

Marian

4et me o say ood#ye to Al#ert 6&arian e#its the stage7

Robeson

Dr D#ois

Dubois

?


65/69


66/69

! &anted to see them o%% #t ! cold not na+iate arond my &arden

Mishka

A&" Do &hat yo &ant ! do not care 6he storms off. Paul rushes over to +instein

who is clearly wobbly and in his bed clothes. He steadies +instein and navigates him

over to the chair.7

Robeson

Al#ert sit do&n

Einstein

Than" yo


67/69

Einstein

0o are already a &ise man


68/69

Nor easily


69/69

far from a distant shore---sub copy

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