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Gumbo Bottoms a Big Muddy Musical by Meredith Ludwig and Cathy Barton
Gumbo Bottomsa Big Muddy Musical
by Meredith Ludwig and Cathy Barton
© 2006 Ludwig & BartonPO Box 268
Boonville.MO 65233660-537-4139
www.GumboBottomsMusical.com
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GUMBO BOTTOMSa Big Muddy Musical
Characters
Vivian Marks – Has just lost her husband and her family fortune, much to her surprise and dismay. Northeastern, wealthy upbringing.
Lucy Taylor – Came to the bottoms with her husband on a shanty boat. They farmed and raised cattle. She’s tough; chews tobacco on occasion and has cleared acres of willows with a machete. She’s got some Cherokee in her past.
Gabe Burns – Lucy’s neighbor and best friend after her husband died. He would rather be on the river than anywhere and makes a living fishing. African American.
Jacques Jeanrue – An opportunistic swindler who uses a fake French accent to impress folks. He is not French!
Gus/Man – Jacques Jeanrue’s bumbling accomplice and a town resident
Cousin/Woman – Vivian’s cousin and a town resident
TimeSpring, 1928
PlaceA cemetery outside Boston and various locations along the Missouri River.
Production note: The set can be quite minimal. A mere suggestion of the shanty boat is adequate and all sound effects are available from the producer.
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Draft: 2014
Gumbo Bottoms
ACT I
Scene One
MUSIC begins as A POOL OF LIGHT comes up on VIVIAN MARKS. She
is looking down at a gravestone in a cemetery. She is dressed sharply, expensively, in black. A MAN and a WOMAN are by her side to comfort
her.
WOMANMay he rest in peace.
VIVIANWhile I starve!
MANIt’s best to forgive and forget.
VIVIANThat’s easy for you to say!
SONG: Misery
All of my life it’s been the menWho told me to leave it up to them.“We’ll do your financial management---And you can be an ornament!”
WOMANI’m so sorry, Vivian. It’s bad enough he’s dead, but to leave you with nothing that’s down right despicable! Are you really homeless? Penniless? What’s to become of you?
VIVIAN
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“Dear trouble not your pretty head,”Was all I ever did hear said..Well, now it’s all left up to me,And all I’ve got is my…misery!
WOMANI heard there’s a piece of land Marcus inherited from an uncle that could be worth something. Is that true? Don’t you have some bottomland somewhere in Missouri?
VIVIANDid you mean Misery?
VIVIAN Missouri…misery!There’s nothing else that’s left to me.Missouri…misery!It’s a Godforsaken place to be!
MANBut what about all those inventions. The bread slicing machine? I remember it was most promising.
VIVIANIt crushed the loaves!
MANThe fish boning machine?
VIVIANQuite stinky! Smashed the fish!
WOMAN The hair dryer? That seemed close to brilliant!
VIVIANSinged my hair and everybody else’s!
MAN He invested in hundreds of inventions, surely something must have made some money!
VIVIANApparently not!
VIVIANDidn’t I lead a privileged life,As wealthy Mr. Mark’s wife?
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Those days are gone, like wisps of smoke,Thanks, Mr. Marks, for now I’m broke!
WOMANBut you had a fortune! Your grand papa’s gold coin collection?
VIVIANGone!
WOMANThe townhouse in Boston?
VIVIANGone!
WOMANYour home in the country?
MANGone!
VIVIANBut I thought…no! Not the country house! Mommy and Daddy are buried there.
MANI’m sorry, Vivian. I thought we might rescue it, but no. You’ll have 30 days to make other living arrangements.
VIVIANThey can’t have my house! You’ve got to do something!
MANI’m afraid it’s all perfectly legal
VIVIANI’ve lost possessions, buildings and land,I left my fortune in his hands.But all those years I couldn’t see,That all he was holding was…misery!
Chorus: (Man & Woman sing with Vivian)Missouri…misery!There’s nothing else that’s left to me.Missouri…misery!It’s a Godforsaken place to be!
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MAN (Holding out a map.)
It’s just a small glimmer of hope, but some of that Missouri river bottomland can be quite rich and prosperous.
VIVIANSince this is all that’s left for me,I guess I’ll go to my Miz-zouri.I’ll go and see what I can find;It’s all I’ve got…but at least it’s mine!
MAN (Woman go get suitcase and traveling coat.)
You women who defer to men,To do your business management,Do it yourself or you might someday beLike Vivian in her misery!
VIVIAN, MAN, WOMAN (MAN and WOMAN prepare VIVIAN for her journey.)
Chorus: Missouri…misery!There’s nothing else. (At least it’s free!)Missouri…misery!It’s a Godforsaken place to be!
MAN & WOMAN (All three travel across stage. Cast begins set change from cemetery to exterior of hotel.)
She’s lost possessions, buildings and land,She left her fortune in his hands.But all those years she couldn’t see,That all he was holding was…misery!
You women who defer to men,To do your business management,Do it yourself or you might someday beLike Vivian in her misery!
Chorus: Missouri…misery!There’s nothing else. (At least it’s free!)Missouri…misery!It’s a God-forsaken destiny-It’s a God-forsaken coun-ter-reeIt’s a God-forsaken place to be!
Scene Two
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The TRAIN WHISTLES, all exit except VIVIAN and JACQUES JEANRUE. The TRAIN PULLS OUT OF THE STATION. JACQUES approaches her. He removes his hat and talks with a thick French accent.
JACQUES Pardon moi, Madame, but that bag looks awfully heavy.
VIVIANI’m fine, thank you.
JACQUESFirst time in Missouri?
VIVIANYes, it is.
JACQUESI couldn’t help but notice you are in mourning. I’m so sorry for your loss.
VIVIANSo am I.
JACQUESTraveling alone, are you?
VIVIANThat’s really not your concern.
JACQUESAn attractive woman, such as you, unescorted could run in to difficulty. Maybe I could be of assistance?
VIVIANNo. Thank you.
JACQUESWell, I hope someone is meeting you?
VIVIANAh…yes! They’ll be here just any minute.
JACQUES
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What a relief. For a moment I thought you’d arrived without man or maid servant here in the wilds of Missouri. It’s just not safe.
VIVIANWhy?
JACQUESYou left civilization when you crossed the Mississippi.
VIVIANI did? Are you from Missouri?
JACQUESHeaven forbid. I’m just traveling through.
VIVIANAnd what makes it so dangerous?
JACQUESWhy the river of course.
VIVIAN(Setting down the bag.)
What about the river?
JACQUESJust don’t go near it and you’ll be fine.
VIVIANIt’s just a lot of water, isn’t it?
JACQUESWith whirlpools that will suck you under; fish big enough they can swallow you whole and then there’s the snakes.
VIVIANPoisonous?
JACQUESDeadly.
VIVIANThat sounds horrendous. Why do people live here?
JACQUESGood question.
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VIVIANWell, I won’t stay any longer than I have to.
JACQUESWhy have you come at all?
VIVIANThat’s none of your business. How utterly rude!
JACQUES(Picking up her bag.)
No, no, no! I'm Jacques JeanRUE, at your service.
VIVIAN(Wrestling with the bag.)
I'm perfectly capable of handling my own affairs.
JACQUESBack east maybe. But Madame, please let me explain.
(During the song she grabs back the bag and sits on it, but he forces her to
dance with him.)
SONG: A WOMAN NEEDS A MAN (Tune: Allouette)
JACQUES
Chorus: A man he needs a woman, that's the way it's always been --- But not near as much as a woman needs a man!
He needs her cooking don’t you know,But she needs him to make the dough!
Make the dough! (VIVIAN: Would you please go!) Ohhhh---
Chorus
A WOMAN NEEDS A MAN (cont’d)
Like the river needs to run,She needs a man to have some fun!Have some fun! (Vivian: You're not the one!)Make the dough (Vivian: Would you please go!)
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Ohhhh---
Chorus
He needs her like the cow needs the grass,She needs a man to pinch her ------!!Derriere! (Vivian: YOU WOULDN'T DARE!)Have some fun! (Vivian: You're not the one!)Make the dough (Vivian: Would you please go!)
Ohhhh ---
Like the fishes need the sea,You need a man --- so why not me?Why not me? (Vivian: Why not just LEAVE!)Derriere! (Vivian: YOU WOULDN'T DARE)Have some fun! (Vivian: You're not the one!)Make the dough (Vivian: Would you please go!)Ohhhh ---
Chorus
VIVIANYou've highly overrated your sex! A man is the very
reason I’m here listening to your hogwash.
JACQUESIt’s been such a pleasure making your acquaintance. Let me, at the very least, carry your bag into the hotel as its beginning to look like your might be stranded here this evening, Madame ___?
(JACQUES tries to wrestle the bag from VIVIAN, but she holds on.)
VIVIANI don’t understand your persistence in assuming you know anything about me, so will you be so kind as to quit pestering me!
JACQUES Always aim to please! Good afternoon!
(He exits to hide and watch.)
GABE BURNS enters with several large fish on a pole.
VIVIAN(Sees GABE but looks around for
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anyone else who might be able to help.)You there! I need to find some property I own, some bottomland. Can you take me there? I’ll pay you.
GABEMaybe after awhile. I’ve got to go to the store and sell my fish.
VIVIANI’ll buy them.
(She hands him a slip of paper.)Here’s the address. I believe it’s the old Harper place. I’ll make it worth your while.
GABEI can get you pretty close, but I got to take my fish over to the store and sell them.
VIVIANI said I would pay you for them.
GABEYou want them cleaned?
VIVIANNo, just leave them. I want to get out to the land before dark.
GABEBut there’s folks over at the store that could use-
VIVIANIf I buy them, aren’t they mine?
GABEYes, ma’am, but if you’re not-
VIVIAN(Heads in the wrong direction.)
Drop them. Let’s go.
GABE(Reluctantly puts down the fish.)
Wagon’s over there.(He points off stage.)
VIVIANA wagon?
GABE
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It’s all I got.
VIVIAN Oh, all right. Here -
(She thrusts the bag at GABE and they exit.) MUSICIANS repeat chorus asJACQUES comes out from hiding, picks up the fish and follows them.
Scene Three
MAN & WOMAN Missouri…misery!There’s nothing else. (At least it’s free!)Missouri…misery!It’s a God-forsaken destiny-It’s a God-forsaken coun-ter-reeIt’s a God-forsaken place to be!
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Scene changes from HOTEL exterior to LUCY TAYLOR’S PLACE. EVENING COLORS set in, music fades as LUCY TAYLOR enters, sits and untangles the trot line as SOUND of an OWL HOOT is heard.
LUCYHey there, hooty hoot!
SOUND of WAGON approaching.
GABE(Off stage, to the mule.)
Whoa there, Babe. That-a-girl. Hello, Mizz. Lucy.
LUCY Hey, Gabe. Who you got there in that wagon?
GABE (Off stage.)
This is Mizz. Marks. She’s come from back East, owns the old Harper place.
LUCY We’ll I’ll be. That’s an awful long way to come for that prime
piece of real estate.
VIVIANI’m relieved to hear that it is. I’m hoping to sell it.
LUCYOh, really?
GABE and VIVIAN enter.
GABEMizz. Marks, this here is Lucy Taylor.
LUCYPleased to meet you. Always did wish my neighbors would come home.
VIVIANThe land was left to my late husband by his uncle. I’m tying up the loose ends of his affairs.
LUCYIt’s a loose end all right.
VIVIAN
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If you’ll excuse us, I’m anxious to see the property.
LUCY That won’t take long.
VIVIAN I’ll be the judge of that. Shall we go?
GABEWe’ll need to walk from here.
VIVIANWhy?
GABEIt gets mighty wet and I can’t risk my wagon getting stuck.
VIVIANHow much farther is it?
LUCY Head to the river and keep on going.
VIVIAN Into the water?
LUCYRight into the Mighty Mo.
VIVIANHow come?
LUCYMost of that land caved.
VIVIAN Caved?
GABEThe river took it, most of it anyway.
VIVIANWhat do you mean?
LUCYCan’t get much plainer than that. The river decided it wanted to go where it hadn’t been in a while. It flooded that bottom and liked it so well, it didn’t go back. Took the house and the barn too.
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VIVIAN That’s impossible? I have the deed!
LUCY Did you hear that, Gabe? She says she has the deed.
GABEToo bad that river don’t know how to read.
SONG: WILEY, GUILEY, MIGHTY MO (Tune: Jenny Jenkins)
LUCYThe river is a giant, oh my dear, oh my dear,The river is a giant, gentle lady;The river is a giant, it is restless and defiant,
Chorus: It’s the winding, twining, twisty, frisky, Wiley, guiley, mighty river MO--- Wiley, guiley MO.
The river is a beast, oh my dear, oh my dear,The river is a beast, gentle lady;
GABEThe river is a beast, on your land it makes a feast,It’s the…
LUCYThe river’s like a fickle man, oh my dear, oh my dear,The river’s like a fickle man, gentle lady;The river’s like a fickle man, here and then he’s gone again,
WILEY, GUILEY, MIGHTY MO (cont.)
LUCY & GABEIt’s the …
GABEThe river’s like a bucking horse, oh my ma’am, yes ma’am,The river’s like a bucking horse, gentle lady,The river’s like a bucking horse, twisting, turning changing course,
LUCY & GABEIt’s the…
The river’s like a restless child, oh my dear, oh my dear,The river’s like a restless child, gentle lady,The river’s like a restless child, we can forgive her when she’s wild,
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It’s the…
VIVIANWhen the deed said bottomland I never would have guessed it meant the bottom of the river! Get me out of here!
LUCYNow, don’t go off half cocked. You’ve still got a nice little sliver of land hanging on both sides of the river. There’s even an Indian mound on it and beside, if you wait long enough the river will most likely put back what she already took.
VIVIAN I don’t have time to sit around this God forsaken muck hole!
Take me to the train.
GABENo more passenger trains today, ma’am. There will be one in the morning. You’ll have to stay over at the hotel tonight.
VIVIAN Heaven forbid!
JACQUES(Enters.)
Excuse me, I believe I can be of assistance here. Mrs. Marks, we meet again.
VIVIANHow dare you follow me!
JACQUESOnly to assist you in dealing with your property. They mentioned an Indian mound. I’m quite familiar with these mounds and the potential for buried treasure. Shall we take a little ride?
VIVIANMaybe, if you’re interested in buying that mound.
JACQUESOh, I have a much better idea.
VIVIANWhat do you want?
JACQUESMrs. Marks, didn’t they bother to tell you that what’s left of your property is a veritable treasure trove?
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VIVIAN(She looks accusingly at LUCY and
GABE.)No, they did not.
JACQUESWhat if I told you that at the end of that thin strip of land you own, up on the bluff could be enough Aztec gold and Injun ar-tee-facts to take care of you for the rest of your life?
VIVIANGo on. I’m listening.
JACQUESAll we have to do is a little digging. I’ve got the tools, the time, and the muscle.
LUCYThe one muscle you need is a brain and you don’t have that. There’s no Aztec gold around here.
VIVIANIf there’s any money that can be made from that property, I’m all for it.
LUCYHe’s talking about a burial mound.
GABELucy, we best be going.
JACQUESSplendid idea. Smart boy!
VIVIANGo on, Mr. Jeanrue
JACQUESThe Indians had a way of burying folks with a good deal of offerings; pottery, tools, jewels, no telling what all well find.
VIVIANWhen could we start?
LUCYYou can’t dig that mound. Those are graves. They don’t belong to you.
VIVIAN
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I own that land, what’s left of it anyway and I’ll do with it as I please.
LUCYBut people are buried there.
JACQUES
It’s so old, all their relatives have been dead for years; they don’t care. Besides, we’ll leave the bones. It’s the rest of it we want!
VIVIAN(To LUCY.)
See? We’ll leave the bones.
LUCYThey’re one and the same. He’s a thief! That’s all he is.
GABELucy. Don’t you got something you need to be doing?
LUCYNot as important as stopping a couple of grave robbers!
JACQUESDon’t let her upset you, Mrs. Marks. She’s obviously an injun lover, probably a half breed and a little too emotional, don’t you think? Let’s take a stroll.
GABELucy, let’s check the trot lines before you do something you’re going to regret. (To VIVIAN.) Mizz. Marks, do you still want a ride back to the hotel?
JACQUESNot in your wagon when she can ride with Jacques Jeanrue! I have an automobile. I’ll get her there.
LUCY You’d better!
JACQUESCalm down. She’s in excellent hands.
LUCY and GABE exit.
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VIVIANOkay. What’s the plan?
JACQUESI dig. You watch and we split the spoils!
SONG: SMELL THE MONEY
JACQUES
Just beneath that dirt and clay,That is where our fortunes lay!Picks and shovels, muscle and mightAnd we’ll be rich by tomorrow night!
Aztec chiefs and royalty,Buried there beneath that tree!All that gold and jewels and gems---Makes me want to shout ‘AMEN!’
Chorus: Can’t you hear those gold coins jingle? Can’t you see the gemstones mingle? Can’t you smell the money, honey? Darlin’, stick with me!
Hallelujah! We’ll soon be set,With all this loot we’re gonna get!Silver! Jewels! Beaten gold!And pots a thousand-one years old!
You think that you were set before?Just wait until you see this store!Why pirates in the Carib-beanWould drool at the riches we’ll be seein’!
VIVIAN(Joins JACQUES onthe chorus and they dance!)
Chorus:JACQUES
The King of England’s a pros’prous man,With castles, crown jewels, houses, land;He’s a rich man you can bet---But not as rich as we’re gonna get!
JACQUES & VIVIAN
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Chorus: Can’t you hear those gold coins jingle? Can’t you see the gemstones mingle? Can’t you smell the money, honey? Darlin’, stick with me! Darlin’ wait and see Darlin’ stick…with…me!
JACQUESDo we have a deal, Mrs. Marks?
VIVIANYes we do, Mr. Jeanrue. (She extends her hand and they shake
and they run off toward his automobile.)
Scene Four
SONG: SMELL THE MONEY
MAN & WOMAN (set change)
Hallelujah! We’ll soon be set,With all this loot we’re gonna get!Silver! Jewels! Beaten gold!And pots a thousand-one years old!
You think that you were set before?Just wait until you see this store!Why pirates in the Carib-beanWould drool at the riches we’ll be seein’!
Can’t you hear those gold coins jingle?Can’t you see the gemstones mingle?Can’t you smell the money, honey?Darlin’, stick with me!Darlin’ wait and see Darlin’ stick…with…me!
Scene changes back to HOTEL EXTERIOR. GABE and LUCY enter.
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LUCYThanks for bringing me to town.
GABEJust what are you planning on doing?
LUCYWaiting here till she shows up and try and talk her out of this whole thing.
GABEYou can talk till you’re blue, but she’s deaf and dumb.
LUCY
That may be. But she needs help.
GABEThere you go again. Why do you think you have to help the likes
of her?
LUCYLook who’s talking. It wasn’t that long ago that I floated into the bottoms with Harry and you never thought twice about giving us a hand and when he died, you were there for me every step of the way and still are. That’s what neighbors do.
GABEBut you floated in here on a shanty boat. She showed up like Cleopatra, with a gold spoon hanging out of her mouth, a knife and fork too.
LUCYIt doesn’t matter, she’s our neighbor and she’s fixin’ to get in over her head. That Jacques Jeanrue character’s up to no good. He’s not from around here.
GABEHe’s some city slicker that knows about that mound.
LUCYNo more than what he overheard. Lots of folks hear the word mound and they go crazy thinking they’ll find gold and such.
GABEI only know one man who ever dug a mound and he never was right after that. Got sick, stayed sick, and died sick.
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LUCYJeanrue is a scoundrel and she’s too desperate to see it.
VIVIAN (off stage.)Thank you for the ride Mr. Jeanrue. I’ll see you in the morning.
GABESounds like two scoundrels to me. I’m going to the store. I’ll be back when she’s gone.
(He exits.)
VIVIAN walks right past LUCY as if she doesn’t see her.
VIVIANExcuse me-
LUCYMrs. Marks. Could I have a word with you?
VIVIANI really don’t know what we would talk about.
(She turns to go into the hotel)
LUCYWell, I do. There’s no way that you, not being from around here, could possibly know what it means to dig into a mound.
VIVIANSpare me the sermon.
LUCYI can’t. It’s just not right.
VIVIANMr. Jeanrue has assured me that this will be done in a most respectful manner. He’s overseen many such operations with complete satisfaction.
LUCYThere’s nothing respectful about robbing a grave.
VIVIANHe has a degree in anthropology.
LUCY
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And you’ve got one in gull-a-bology. I bet he’s not even from France.
VIVIANI’ve heard enough.
LUCYNo. You haven’t. Why do you think busting open this mound is any different than going up town to the cemetery and cracking open a casket?
VIVIANIt’s on my property and it’s an Indian mound. Nobody cares.
LUCYI care! I’m an Indian, at least halfway.
VIVIANYou don’t dress like one.
LUCYI left my feathers at home. The point is you’re messin’ with more than arrowheads. You’re stirrin’ up the ancestors and nobody’s going to rest right after this.
VIVIANI’ll have no trouble sleeping. I guarantee it. Good night.
(VIVIAN exits into the hotel.)
LUCYNo, it’s not a good night.
GABE(Enters.)
You and Cleopatra get it all worked out?
LUCYOh, Gabe. How can one person be so selfish?
GABEIf you haven’t got it in your heart, you got to have it in your pocket book.
LUCYHow come you to be so smart?
GABEI’ve got a history with greedy folks, and you do to. Come on, I’ll take you home.
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GABE and LUCY exit.
Scene Five
BEDROOM, RIVERDELL HOTEL, night. Indian flute intro to CRY OF THE ANCESTORS plays under as CAST changes scene from exterior hotel to interior hotel. VIVIAN puts on nightgown and gets in bed. The LIGHTS suggest a DREAM. JACQUES carrying a shovel, dressed as himself speaks as the flute finishes.
JACQUESVivian, don’t you worry about a thing. Your family knows what a wretched situation your husband left you in and they’re all saying “Dig us up! Dig us up! Come on and dig us up!” Can you hear them?
VIVIAN(Answers from her sleep.)
No.
JACQUESYou’re not listening! Your grandmother is speaking. (He uses an old woman’s voice.) “Vivian, honey. Go ahead. Let him dig us up. We don’t need a thing anymore! We’re dead!”
VIVIANNo. Grand Mama, it’s not right.
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JACQUES. “Sure it is. I don’t need my gold teeth! I’m done chewing. And
Jacques, he seems like a real nice gentleman.”
VIVIANIf you say so, Grand Mama.
JACQUESOh, yes! She says so! I promise I won’t disturb their bones. They’ll never know what happened. They’re dead and they’ve been dead a long time. The point is they can’t use these things where they are, but you can. Right?
VIVIANYes, that’s right.
JACQUES About your grandmother’s gold teeth, with a little hammering they should come right out.
VIVIANA hammer?
JACQUESJust a tiny one, I promise. Your mother’s rings and necklace alone sound like they’re worth a small fortune…your father’s gold pocket watch and that platinum wedding band and who was it you said had the big gold cross?
VIVIANMy Aunt Gertrude was a nun. It hung in the chapel. They buried her with it. But her grave is at the convent.
JACQUESThat might be a little tricky, but nothing Jacques Jeanrue can’t handle. You need these things. You deserve these things. It’s only fair that you should have them. I’ll dig them up in no time. Don’t worry. Your family won’t feel a thing.
MUSIC swells. During the song JACQUES’ LIGHT puts
him in silhouette as he starts to dig.
SONG: CRY OF THE ANCESTORS
CAST
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Listen! The wind she moans,She sighs, she murmurs, she groans;She says "Here are Spirits and bones --Leave them alone!"
This sacred place we keep ---Here our relatives sleep,Don't make them cry and weep,Let them sleep!
You would never dig up your own, so leave them alone!You would never dig up your own, so leave them alone!
Repeat
(At the end, whisper "Let them sleep, let them sleep," and fade until all the
audience can hear is "sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep..." which will sound like a rattle shaking. The song ends when:
VIVIAN(Sits up and shrieks from her sleep.)
No! Stop! Don’t dig up Grand Mama!
VIVIAN realizes she’s been dreaming and begins to dress.
(INDIAN FLUTE joined by VIOLIN continues under as CAST changes scene from INTERIOR HOTEL to EXTERIOR HOTEL. WOMAN helps VIVIAN dress and pack.)
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Scene Six
LIGHTS BRIGHTEN TO MORNING SUN as JACQUES enters impatiently. VIVIAN comes down the steps, coat and hat, suitcase in hand.
.JACQUES
Mrs. Marks. What a pleasure to see you again, although I have been waiting for over an hour.
VIVIANGood morning, Mr. Jeanrue.
(VIVIAN proceeds past him toward the train station.)
JACQUESExcuse me, but you don’t look dressed to go digging.
VIVIANThat’s right. I must leave for home this morning. I have urgent business to attend to.
JACQUESNone more urgent than what’s going on right here.
VIVIANYour assumptions about my affairs continue to astound me.
JACQUESI’m an amazing man, but you just go on home. It won’t matter. I’ll do the digging. I’ll just keep track of everything. You know, I’ll keep a list. That way you’ll know what I find. I can send it to you in a telegram.
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VIVIANI believe this project will just have to wait until I return.
JACQUESAnd when will that be?
VIVIANI’m not sure
JACQUESBut we had an agreement.
VIVIANYes. I realize that, but I had no idea I would be called back so soon. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a train to catch.
JACQUESI will not excuse you. Nobody, no how, no way breaks a deal with Jacques Jeanrue.
VIVIANThen I’ll be the first.
(She attempts to walk past him.)
JACQUES (Grabs VIVIAN’S arm.)
You don’t understand who you’re dealing with.
VIVIANLet go of my arm.
JACQUESNow you get this straight. We had a deal, and a deal is a deal.
VIVIANYou’re hurting me. Let go of me now! This is no way to treat a lady.
JACQUES(Let’s go of her arm.)
A lady keeps her word. You, Mrs. Marks, are no lady!(He spits and as he exits collides
with LUCY.)Out of my way!
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VIVIAN straightens herself up dusts herself off and heads to the train
plat- form. LUCY enters.
LUCY Wait! Vivian! Are you all right?
VIVIANI’m fine, but Mr. Jeanrue is not at all happy with me right now.
LUCYWhat happened?
VIVIANI changed my mind and he didn’t like it.
LUCYYou all aren’t going to dig the mound?
VIVIANNo.
LUCYOh, thank you. Thank you! Thank you!
VIVIANDon’t thank me. Thank Grand Mama’s gold teeth.
LUCYGold teeth?
VIVIANNever mind. (She starts for the train.)
LUCY Where are you going?
VIVIANBack home/East.
LUCYWhy?
VIVIANWhat choice do I have? I have no land, the river took it. No treasures, your ancestor’s have them and the house is completely
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submerged. There is nothing here worth anything that belongs to me.
LUCYI’ve got an idea. Come with me…just a short walk from here. Won’t take a minute.
VIVIANI can’t. I’ll miss my train.
LUCYIt won’t be here for another hour. Come on. Besides, you come all this way; you might as well take a look around.
(LUCY takes VIVIAN’S arm and she shrugs her off, but LUCY is persistent and as they walk the CAST convert the HOTEL into the SHANTYBOAT.)
VIVIANThere’s nothing to see! Besides, I need to take care of business back home.
LUCYYou got family back there?
VIVIANJust a cousin. I lost my parents to influenza, and now my husband is dead.
LUCYI lost Harry five years ago. I know how hard it is.
VIVIANI’ll be feeling it for the rest of my life. I’ve lost everything.
LUCYIt feels that way at first.
VIVIANNo. I really have. It’s all gone. Money! House! Fortune! Gone!
LUCYWhat about the land?
VIVIAN
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I came here to sell it. I planned to take the money and try to buy my house back. I thought it would be worth something, but there’s nothing to sell!
LUCYWell, you’ve still got a nice little strip of bluff top, a sliver of river bank and now you’ve got a home.
VIVIANBut you told me it was in the river!
LUCYIt is. But there’s another one. And this one floats.
(She points to the shanty.)
VIVIANThat ugly looking thing?
LUCYYes. It belongs to you for as long as you want it.
VIVIANWhatever do you mean?
LUCYHarry and I floated in here on that boat, and we don’t need it anymore. He’s dead and I’ve got a little house. It’s all yours.
VIVIANWhy would I want it?
LUCYTo live on. Since yours caved in the river I thought you could just have mine. Just take a look.
VIVIANYou are out of your mind.
LUCYFirst you were complaining because you didn’t have a home and now you’re complaining because you do. Which is it going to be?
VIVIAN
Is it worth anything? Maybe I could sell it!
LUCYYou’ll have to see for yourself. There’s real nice bed in there; a good feather tick, there’s even a china chamber pot. I sleep better on the boat than anywhere. It’s just like a cradle and the river is your mamma rocking you to sleep.
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VIVIANNot my mamma.
LUCYGabe can help us move the boat to your land and tie it off and you can get acquainted with the river. I can’t think of a better place to drown your sorrow.
VIVIANThat’s the most ridiculous idea I’ve ever heard!
LUCYWell, it sounds like you’ve got nothing to go back to and everything you need is here. It’s a good idea! Give it one week. What have you got to lose?
GABE(ENTERS.)
I’ve been looking all over for you.
LUCYHey, Gabe. I’m trying to get Mrs. Marks to live on the boat for a while. Don’t you think that’s a good idea?
GABEDo you really want me to answer that?
LUCYNo. I was telling her how we could move the boat to her land and she could sort of get used to things around there.
GABEIs that so? Well, I just ran into her friend and he isn’t at all friendly and right now.
LUCYHe’s just a blow hard!
GABEI’m headed home and need to know if you want a ride.
LUCYCan’t you hold that mule just a minute? Mrs. Marks hasn’t had a tour of the boat.
GABEAnd that’s gonna change her mind?
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LUCYGabe! Be serious. She’s lost everything.
VIVIANDon’t discuss my financial affairs with the help .
LUCYHelp? Oh, Lordy. She didn’t mean nothin’ by that, Gabe. Just that you’re big help.
GABEI don’t have time for this. River’s on a rise and I got things to do.
LUCYWon’t take a minute. Come on. It’s real cute on the inside. And I know it will grow on you. You could just try it for a week.
VIVIANHow about we try it for five minutes?
LUCY(Has climbed on board and offers her
hand to VIVIAN.)Okay! Great! Take my hand.
VIVIANI don’t need your help!
LUCYIn those shoes, you’d better ‘cause-- Watch where you --
VIVIAN(Missteps into the mud.)
Eeeewwwww. Uuuugh. What is this horrid stuff?!
LUCYWe call it “gumbo”.
During the song the MAN & WOMAN join in the fun. And JACQUES JEANRUE is seen by the audience but hidden from VIVIAN.
SONG: GUMBO BOTTOMS (Tune: John Stenson's #2)
LUCY It sucks you in, it pulls you down,It's slippery, sticky, rich and brown,
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It's clay-like muck that sticks like glue,It's stuff that holds on fast to you.
GABE When the river floods and shifts the land,It leaves behind rich silt and sand.Walk on through this mucky goo,It'll take your boots right off of you!
`GUMBO BOTTOMS (cont.)
Chorus: Gumbo is a soup, that's true --
Okra thickens it up like stew. Our gumbo bottoms are thick with mud, That sticky stuff gets in your blood.
Gumbo is "patois" they say -- By Creoles down New Orleans way. Our gumbo's mud and silt and sand--
Rich "patois" of river land!
Now, gumbo has the power to heal,Its drying ways will form a seal.It'll draw the poison from your skin,And lets the healing time begin.
Chorus
It's hard to leave, but if you do,You'll find that mud still stuck on you.Can't leave this place too far behind--Gumbo holds your heart and mine.
Chorus:
Gumbo is a soup, that's true --- Okra thickens it up like stew. Our gumbo bottoms are thick with mud, That sticky stuff gets in your blood. Gumbo is "patois" they say, By Creoles down New Orleans way. Our gumbo's mud and silt and sand, Rich "patois" of river land.
Once you're here, you tend to stay,
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It's hard to shake off gumbo clay, Can't leave this place too far behind, Gumbo holds fast to your heart and mine!
VIVIANI’m going to need all new clothes.
LUCY
You just need some real clothes.
VIVIANMy shoes are ruined and my dress will never come clean.
GABEMaybe you can get the help to scrub it on a rock.
LUCYCome on. I want to show you your new home.
LUCY offers her hand and this time VIVIAN takes it. GABE exits as LIGHTS FADE TO BLACK.
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Draft 2014 ACT II
Scene OneEXTERIOR DECK, SHANTYBOAT. During the song we see LUCY showing VIVIAN the cabin.
SONG: Misery
MAN, WOMAN, JACQUES
Chorus: Missouri…misery!There’s nothing else that’s left for . . . she.Missouri…misery!It’s a Godforsaken place to be!
Didn’t she lead a privileged life,As wealthy Mr. Mark’s wife?Those days are gone, like wisps of smoke,Thanks to Mr. Marks, now she’s broke.
She’s lost possessions, buildings and land,She left her fortune in his hands.But all those years she couldn’t see,That all he was holding was…misery!
Chorus: Missouri…misery!There’s nothing else. (At least it’s free!)Missouri…misery!It’s a God-forsaken destiny-It’s a God-forsaken coun-ter-reeIt’s a God-forsaken place to be!
IVIVIAN and LUCY come out onto the
deck.
LUCYWell, what do you think?
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VIVIANIf my husband wasn’t already dead, I would kill him.
LUCYIs it that bad?
IVIANThis isn’t a home. It’s a floating shack.
LUCYNow wait a minute, I loved living on this boat; fishing for my supper, catching drift for the cook stove, gathering greens in the bottoms. Hey, we can put you in a little garden.
VIVIANWho do you think I am? Pocahontas?
LUCYI keep forgetting you might not have had an upbringing like mine.
VIVIANI can assure you I have never baited a hook, let alone gathered dandelions. I grew up in a city, with a maid, a cook, and a nanny.
LUCY
Only nanny we ever had was a goat.
VIVIANWhat you fail to understand is that we are not cut from the same cloth.
LUCYKind of like I came from a flour sack and you’re made out of lace.
VIVIANSomething like that.
LUCYLace isn’t very practical out here.
VIVIANObviously.
LUCYI don’t know nothing about where you come from…all I know is--
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SONG: I’LL TAKE PERFUME
I like fresh air! (Lucy)I'll take perfume! (Vivian)I like the outdoors! (Lucy)I prefer my own room. (Vivian)
I’LL TAKE PERFUME (Cont.)
I can eat when I want! (Lucy)I like meals served at eight! (Vivian)Fish fried in a pan! (Lucy)Pate on a gold plate! (Vivian)
Chorus: (Sung together)I'm quite happy to live just the way that I do ---
So why would I want to trade places with you? Why would I want to trade places with you?
I sleep under the stars! (Lucy)Oh, my canopy bed! (Vivian)My quilt keeps me warm ---(Lucy)I like satins instead! (Vivian)
I live all on my own. (Lucy)Butlers come when I call! (Vivian)I can fend for myself! (Lucy)I let them do it all! (Vivian)
Chorus
Give me sunsets and rainbows. (Lucy)Just get me off of this boat! (Vivian)I like cold frosty mornings ---(Lucy)I want my mink coat! (Vivian)
I can trap you a mink. (Lucy)A mink is NOT a fur coat! (Vivian)Learn to skin it yourself ! (Lucy)Stop!! I'm leaving this boat! (Vivian)
But you can make your own coat! (Lucy)What I need I shall buy --- (Vivian)
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Well, not here on this river! (Lucy)And that's one more reason why --- (Vivian)
Chorus
VIVIAN
Help me off of here!
LUCYBut I just can’t stand that you’ve come all this way and you won’t even know what it’s like to be on your own land.
VIVIANI’ll survive. Let’s go.
A TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS in the distance.
LUCYWhoops! Sounds like the train.
VIVIANIs that my train?
LUCYI reckon so.
VIVIANI thought you said we had an hour.
LUCYWell we did. I guessed we used more than we thought. I told you there was a lot to see.
VIVIANDid you do this deliberately to get me to stay on this wreck of a boat?
LUCYNow, I’m very fond of this boat and it got me through some really rough times and I know it can do the same for you. Just be patient.
It’ll grow on you.
VIVIANYou tricked me!
LUCY
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I’ve never been good with being on time. It’s just part of life in the bottoms, I guess.
VIVIANSo now what? I’ll starve out here. And my clothes? I’ll ruin my clothes!
LUCYI promise you won’t go hungry and I’ve got plenty of work
clothes. They aren’t as fancy as yours, but the fish don’t care.
VIVIANI’ve heard there’s fish in there that can swallow you whole.
LUCYBoy, I’d like to catch one. Just think how long we could eat off of that.
VIVIANAnd what about the whirlpools that pull you under?
LUCYWe’ll tie a rope to you ‘fore we throw you in.
VIVIANI’m serious. It’s dangerous out here. What about those wild animals?
LUCYYou’ll be just fine. The critters would have to fly from the bluff or swim from the bank. I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. Besides the hotel cost money and this is free.
VIVIANOkay, I’ll stay. One night and one night only! Do you hear me?
LUCYYes! Yes! I hear you. One night. You won’t regret it.
VIVIANI already do.
LUCY and VIVIAN exit into cabin.
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Scene TwoSHANTYBOAT AND RIVER BANK. LIGHTS change to an AFTERNOON GLOW. MAN and WOMAN create the riverbank and GABE ties the boat to the trees as they whistle and sing the chorus of I’LL TAKE PERFUME. GABE climbs on board and begins to set the trot lines. LUCY comes out of the cabin to help him.
LUCYRiver’s clear up over the stake I put out yesterday.
GABE
Well, we’re way overdue for a good rise.
LUCYShe won’t know how to deal with the boat in a flood.
GABE Heck no! This is crazy! How come you’re giving her this boat? She don’t need it. She don’t want it and she sure can’t take care of it.
LUCYHer husband is dead. Her money is gone and she’s lost her home.
GABE You believe that?
LUCY I reckon so. We’re going to have to keep an eye on her.
GABE I don’t think we are. Remember this was your idea.
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LUCYI know, but you helped and I’ve got a cow having a hard time with
a calf and I’ll probably be up all night. I just thought maybe you could check on the boat once. It’s just the neighborly thing to do.
GABEThere ain’t nothing neighborly about her.
LUCYShe’s going through some hard times.
GABEWhat are you talking about? She is a hard time. That kind of women, she don’t have what it takes to live here. She won’t be on this boat 10 minutes, let alone overnight.
LUCYHow do you know about “that kind of women”?
GABE I know she ain’t never worked a day in her life. She don’t know what it means to sweat, to bleed, to run, to go without. And me, I ain’t nothing to her, but somebody to tote her bag and fetch her fish. Can’t you see it? You ain’t nothing to her either. I’m a darkie and you’re an injun and she will walk all over us to get what she wants. You’re always looking for the good in folks, but sometimes it just ain’t there.
VIVIAN (Calling from inside the cabin.)
Lucy? I need a belt!
LUCYDon’t own one. I don’t believe in anything that restricts my breathing.
VIVIANHow about believing in something to keeps these pants up?
LUCYHow about a piece of rope?
VIVIANI don’t care what it is.
LUCYHere you go. It’s adjustable! (She tosses a rope into the cabin.)
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Gabe, you hungry?
GABEI got to get going.
LUCYYou’ll be missing out on that buffalo I smoked, got some cornbread too, greens—
GABEI’m not hungry.
LUCYI’ve never known you to turn down smoked fish.
GABEIt’s the company I’m turning down.
(GABE steps off the boat and works on the lines to avoid VIVIAN as she emerges from the cabin dressed in borrowed clothes and boots.)
LUCY(Whistles.)
Now that’s more like it.
VIVIANNothing fits! Everything hangs on me like a sack.
LUCYYou just need some more meat on your bones if you’re going to wear Harry’s old clothes. In fact I’ve got some buffalo I want you to try.
VIVIANYou shot a buffalo? Around here? Are there more Indians?
LUCY(Unwraps the fish.)
No. Just me. And no, I did not shoot this buffalo. I hooked him.Got him right out of this river.
VIVIANA buffalo fish? I’ve never heard of such a thing?
GABEWhat about a drum?
LUCY
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A blue cat?
GABEA flathead?
VIVIANNo. I eat salmon and caviar!
LUCYCaviar! Well, we’ve got caviar. What you been eating could have come from here. Sturgeon love this water.
VIVIANThis dirty old river?
LUCYYou’d be surprised what comes out of here. Wouldn’t she, Gabe?
GABESome folks just can’t get past the mud.
SONG: NOTHING BETTER THAN A RIVER LIFE
LUCYWhen you see a river, you just gotta cross over,You can't wait to reach the other side.But I see a river, I see a life-giver,And a mighty fine place to live my life.
GABE When you see a river, do you really see the river,
Or are you thinking how to build a bridge?But this river, life-giver, gives me breakfast, lunch and dinner;This river's full of every kind of fish.
LUCY & GABE
Chorus: Flathead, shovelnose and humpback buffalo, I eat as well as any wealthy man! Blue cat and mud cat, channel cat, big and fat, My wealth is in the river, not the land.
GABEThere's just no way to measure all the joy and the pleasure,Getting dinner with some hooks and earthworm bait;
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For all I need to dine is a rock and hooks and line,Then I lay back in my boat and dream and wait.
LUCY
When you see a river, do you really see the water,Or just a churning menace in your way?But I know this muddy water gives me drum. gar and sucker,And keeps me full and happy all my days.
NOTHING BETTER THAN A RIVER LIFE (cont.)
LUCY & GABEChorus
There’s nothing so grand as catfish in a pan,And you're floating in your boat at eventide.Full moon shining on the stream, frogs and crickets sing,There's nothing better than a river life!
Chorus
(By the end of the song VIVIAN is standing watching the lines and
waiting.)
LUCYNow, you don’t have to stand there and watch the lines unless you want to.
VIVIANBut shouldn’t I? How will we know we have a fish?
LUCYYou just check ‘em every once in awhile.
VIVIANAnd what if I catch one? What do I do?
GABE(Annoyed.)
Clean it. Cook it. Eat it.
LUCY(Opens the paper package of smoked fish and offers it to GABE and VIVIAN.)
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She doesn’t know how to do that, yet, Gabe. We’ll have to teach you. Here, try some of this.
VIVIANIs this the buffalo…fish?
LUCYYes…it’s been smoked.
VIVIAN(Eats a piece of fish.)
That’s delicious. I can’t believe you caught it yourself.
LUCYI’ve been telling you. It’s all right here.
GABEI’m in the middle of mending my nets and I need to get back to it.
(GABE exits.)
LUCYOkay! Thanks till you’re better paid.
(She motions for VIVIAN to go down into the cabin.)
Come on in and I’ll fix you a plate.
VIVIANWhy do you act like he’s your friend?
LUCYBecause he is.
VIVIANIt’s not proper. He’s a Negro.
LUCYAnd I’m a half-breed. Do you want supper or not?
VIVIANOh, all right.
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Scene Three
LIGHTS change from late afternoon to NIGHTIME. VIVIAN emerges from the cabin and sits on the deck wrapped in a quilt. NIGHTTIME SOUNDS abound, owls, coyote and the bug-band all chime in. A TWIG SNAPS.
VIVIANWho’s there? Is that you, Lucy?
GABENo, ma’am. It’s me, Gabe.
VIVIANDon’t you come near me!
GABEI hadn’t planned on it. Lucy sent me. The river’s rising.
VIVIANYou expect me to believe that?
GABEI reckon you pretty much believe what you want to.
SOUND OF COYOTES YIPPING.
VIVIANWhat are those horrible sounds?
GABEJust coyotes on the other side of the river. They won’t be any bother.
VIVIAN
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They already have been! They sound completely deranged. How am I supposed to sleep with all this noise?
GABEThat’s nothing. Train been by?
VIVIANSeveral times. I don’t mind that. At least that’s a sound I know. It’s these others I can’t bare.
GABEGive it a couple nights and you won’t even hear ‘em.
VIVIANThis will be my one and only night. I’m going to sell this wreck of
a boat and get the first train out of here. I don’t know how I’ll get any sleep at all. It’s like I’m on a jungle safari.
GABEHigh water’s coming and Lucy asked me to come by.
VIVIANAnd give me one more thing to worry about? I’d be safer with the coyotes, I’m sure.
GABEMaybe I should just leave you to ‘em.
VIVIANYou listen to me. I don’t know you and I just lost everything I owned to the man I was married to. I’ll be damned if I trust the likes of you.
GABEThis was Lucy’s idea.
VIVIANShe has a lot of few bad ideas.
GABEThe river’s fixin’ to flood and she knows if your boat’s tied too tight, you’ll take on water in a hurry.
VIVIANI won’t be here that long.
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GABE
It’s not you I’m worried about. It’s the boat. You just happen to be on it.
VIVIANHow dare you insult me! You don’t know your place.
GABEYou got that wrong. I know where I belong. You’re the one who’s lost.
VIVIANGet out! Do whatever you have to do to this boat and get out!
VIVIAN exits into the cabin and GABE watches her go and works retying the lines as he sings.
SONG: UNFREE FREEDOM
GABE I know my place; I sure know my lot,
I'm black, you're white, you call the shots.Tell me why that Civil War was fought?Unfree freedom is all the black man got.
I know my place, you bet I do,I've got a name, but I'm just 'boy' to you! How long we gotta wait this through?Unfree freedom's got me mean and blue.
(Moan as a kind of chorus)
There's a lesson I learned and I ain't forgot, One wrong step, and it's noose and knot!That's what happened to Jimmy Scott,White man's justice was all that poor man got.
He met a gal in an empty lotHe was soon fingered and he was caught;Don't matter if innocent or not,No trial at all for poor Jimmy Scott.
(Moan as chorus)
The years go by, it's all the same, Ain't got respect, ain't called by name,How long we playin' this white man's game?
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Unfree freedom's just a cryin' shame.
I know my place, oh, yes, I do,But if only you stood in my shoes--If what's done to me was done to you,Unfree freedom be breakin' your heart in two.
BOLT OF THUNDER EXPLODES
and GABE exits.
Scene Four
FLASHES of LIGHTENING and THUNDER CRASHES. JACQUES JEANRUE and his accomplice, GUS, enter. They carry a shovel and a lantern.
JACQUES(In a loud whisper.)
This is close enough. Set it down.
GUS drops his shovel, making a clatter.
JACQUESQuiet, you idiot! We can’t afford to wake the sleeping princess!
GUSSorry, Mr. Jeanrue. Is she a real princess?
JACQUES(Dropping his French accent.)
Only in her pitiful little mind.
GUSHey. I thought you was from France.
JACQUESI can be when it’s necessary. I have found that people will believe anything if you say it with an accent.
GUSMaybe I should get one.
JACQUES
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In your case, it might not help. Now, the first thing we’ve got to do is untie these ropes.
GUSBut won’t the boat float away?
JACQUESI certainly hope so.
GUSWon’t it be dangerous?
JACQUESThat’s the plan!
GUSShe could get killed?
JACQUESNot likely!
GUSBut-
JACQUESJust untie the rope!
OFFSTAGE we hear LUCY.
LUCYVivian! It’s me Lucy! I don’t want to scare you.
JACQUES and GUS freeze, then JACQUES gestures wildly for them to move off stage. THUNDER RUMBLES, LIGHTNING FLASHES. LUCY enters, climbs onto the boat and goes to the cabin door. She is carrying a BASKET and some extra LINE.
LUCYVivian. I’ve come to check on you!
VIVIAN(Comes out.)
It’s been raining so hard the water’s coming under the door.
LUCY
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It does that. You’re getting a baptism! I brought you some breakfast for in the morning.
VIVIANIt’s been raining for hours.
LUCYIt’s spring.
VIVIANSo?
LUCYI put a stake out yesterday and it’s already over the top.
VIVIANWhat does that mean?
LUCYRiver’s up at least four feet since last night and four feet from the night before.
VIVIANCan I still leave tomorrow?
LUCYYou might make it out.
VIVIANI have to! I don’t belong here.
LUCYMaybe not, but it’s where you are and it’s what you’ve got.
(THUNDER in the distance.)Besides, all this rain mixed with the snowmelt from up north, we’re fixin’ to have a spring rise.
VIVIANWhat’s a spring rise?
LUCYJust a little something I neglected to mention.
LUCYSONG: SPRING RISE
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It starts up north when the sun hits the snow,blankets of white melt away;
What begins as a trickle through the rocks and the trees,Ends up a river at the close of the day.
SPRING RISE cont.
The rains come down and add to the flow,Til the river grows mighty and big;She mingles, meanders, she puddles and pools,And dances o'er the land like she's dancing a jig.
Chorus:Spring rise! It's spring rise! River's got to be free,
Spring rise! Spring rise! She won't simply let you be. You'd better not nap by her shore, "fore you know it, that shore's no more. Spring rise! It's spring rise! Spring rise!
Wade in the water on a hot afternoon,Cooling the sweat on your brow;Next day you'll be in that very same place.Waist deep in water and you’re wondering how.
It's the river's own music, it's of rhythm and time,And that's something we feel and we know;We're part of that rhythm, we know that old tune,And we dance along to that big muddy flow.
Chorus
VIVIANGreat! Is there anything else you neglected to mention?
LUCYA few things, but we’ll have to save them for later. Right now I’ve got to retie these lines higher up in the trees. There’s cows I need to tend to and I’m wonderin’ if you’d be willin’ to help get some folks moved.
VIVIANMe? Why?
LUCY
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Most of these houses in the low bottom are going to take on water sometime tomorrow. We’ll haul their belongin’s to the upstairs or to higher ground. They’ll stay with family or friends till the river drops.
VIVIANHow many “folks”?
LUCYMe and Gabe, and as many others as we’ve got time to help.
VIVIANYou and Gabe? He was here awhile ago with me, alone. I can’t believe you sent him. His kind is dangerous and you’re blind if you don’t see it. He was carrying on about some Jimmy Scott.
LUCYThat was a colored man in Columbia got accused of messing with a white woman about five years ago. They lynched him while a
couple thousand people just stood and watched. So who did you say was dangerous around here?
.VIVIAN
I’m sure he got what he deserved.
LUCYA noose around his neck instead of a trial. I don’t think so. Will you help us or not?
VIVIANI want to be on the morning train.
LUCYWell, I guess there’s nothing stopping you from doing it. Just crawl up the bank and flag it down. The dinky will be through here around 10:00.
(LUCY starts to go.)
VIVIANI can’t crawl up the bank. I’ll get muddy.
LUCYWell, la-de-da. I really don’t give a damn. Here! (She thrusts the rope at VIVIAN.) Tie it to the highest limb and pray the river don’t rise too fast.
LUCY exits. VIVIAN looks at the rope then throws it on the deck. THUNDER and LIGHTENING intensify and she
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darts back into the shanty, then remembers the food, grabs the basket and closes the door. JACQUES and GUS quietly tiptoe back on stage from
where they were hiding.
GUSYou didn’t tell me somebody might get hurt!
JACQUESI figured you knew.
GUSYou said we was digging a hole?
JACQUESYes. We are, but first we’ve got to get rid of the boat.
GUSBut I think-
JACQUESI’m not paying you to think.
GUSBut I feel-
JACQUESQuit feeling and listen!
Reprise: SMELL THE MONEY
JACQUES
Just beneath that dirt and clay,That is where our fortunes lay!Picks and shovels, muscle and mightAnd we’ll be wealthy by tomorrow night!
Aztec chiefs and royalty,Buried there beneath that tree!All that gold and jewels and gems---Makes me want to shout
GUS‘AMEN!’
JACQUES
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Shhhhhhhhhhhh…….
Chorus: Can’t you hear those gold coins jingle? Can’t you see the gemstones mingle? Can’t you smell the money, sonny? You best stick with me!
Hallelujah! We’ll soon be set,With all this loot we’re gonna get!Silver! Jewels! Beaten gold!And pots a thousand-one years old!
SMELL THE MONEY (cont.)
You think that you were set before?Just wait until you see this store!Why pirates in the Carib-beanWould drool at the riches we’ll be seein’!
JACQUES & GUS
Can’t you hear those gold coins jingle?Can’t you see those gemstones mingle?Can’t you smell the money, sonny?You best stick with me!Just you wait and see.Sonny stick with me.
GUSI can smell it now. I’m in! I’m in! Where do I dig?
JACQUESWe’ve got to untie the ropes first!
GUSOh, yeah! Okay! All right!
(As they head back to untie the lines,The WOMAN enters and slowly moves a tree away as the boat leaves the bank. JACQUES and GUS each take a tree move them until the boat is alone on the stage.)
JACQUESGoodbye, Mrs. Marks. Enjoy your cruise.
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GUSShe could have a good time, couldn’t she?
JACQUESProbably not.
Scene Five
WATER SOUNDS intensify – SOUND OF BIG BOAT ENGINE. NAVIGATION LIGHT crosses stage focuses on boat and a HORN BLOWS.)
VIVIAN (From inside.)Just as I’m finally getting to sleep you have to blow your blasted horn! Will this nightmare never end?
(The HORN BLOWS again as a NAVIGATION LIGHT crosses the
boat several times and comes back to it.)
Okay. That’s enough. I hear you. Stop blowing that horn!(The HORN BLOWS again. SOUND of
BIG BOAT approaching. VIVIANstumbles out onto the deck from the
cabin to confront the boat)Why did I ever agreed to this? Here I am! What do you want? Saints above! I’m in the middle of the river!
(VIVIAN hangs on to the shanty as the boat is being tossed by the wake of
the big boat.)Gabe! I knew it! He’s trying to kill me. Help! Please ! Oh God! Don’t run me over. Help me! You have to help me!
(VIVIAN screams as the LIGHT and the HORN bare down on the shantyboat.)
Oh my God! Stop! Stop! You’re going to kill me! Oh God! Save me! Somebody save me.
(The wake tosses her boat as she goes through a near miss with the big
boat.)
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DON’T LEAVE! COME BACK HERE! You have to save me! I’m going die in this wretched place. Marcus! Do you see what you’ve done to me? This is all
your fault.
GABE(Enters from the back of the theatre with
a lantern and tries to keep up along the shore with the boat in the
current.)Mizz Marks! What in the world are you doing?
VIVIANYou! You stay away from me. You sent me down the river! You’re trying to kill me. I know it now.
GABEMizz Marks! That just ain’t true.
VIVIANI’m going die on this river and it’s all because of you.
GABEYou listen here. I ain’t done nothing to kill you.
VIVIANI don’t believe you!
GABEThere’s nobody else out here to believe.
VIVIANI don’t trust you! Go get help!
GABEThere’s no time for that! Try to find the anchor and a rope.
VIVIANHow can I be sure you aren’t trying to kill me?
GABECause if I was I wouldn’t be here trying to save your sorry self.
VIVIANYou want me dead. Because of Jimmie Scott. I know it.
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GABENo, ma’am, it ain’t so, but if you don’t do what I say, you may wind up dead anyway. Do you see the anchor?
VIVIANYes!
GABEOkay, listen good cause real quick like, river’s going into the bend. The current is gonna take the boat to the shore and when it does you to be ready to drop that anchor. You hear me?
VIVIAN(Starts to pick it up and puts it
down.)It’s too heavy. I can’t do it.
GABEYou can to! You got to! Don’t lift it! Shove it. When you drop the anchor the boat’s gonna swing around and stop. You hang on.
VIVIAN(Picking up the rope, drags the anchor over to the edge of the boat.)
What if it doesn’t stop?
GABEThen you’ll have a real fine time in St. Louis! Now get ready. Wait till I tell you.
VIVIANI’m pretty close now.
GABEOkay. Count to three and give it all you’ve got!
GABE & VIVIANOne-two-three-uuuuuuhhhhhh!
(SPLASH OF ANCHOR into water. The trees reappear as the boat swings into shore.)
GABEHang on!
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VIVIANThe ropes too tight! It’s going to break!
GABEThat’s the current pushing on the boat. You’re okay!
VIVIANI did it?
GABEYes, ma’am! You sure did.
(Moving toward the boat.)What were you doing out there?
VIVIANI must have fallen asleep. When the horn woke me up I was in the middle of the river. That ship almost ran
over me. So, you didn’t untie the boat?
GABEIt crossed my mind, but no. I was busy helpin’ folks out of the low bottom. I headed to my place to finish movin’ my stuff when I heard the horn blastin’, you screamin’ and the lights flashin’. Throw me that line!
VIVIAN(She throws the line and GABE pulls the boat tight and secures it.)
Then who did it?
GABEYour memory that bad?
VIVIANJacques Jeanrue?
GABEBe my first guess.
VIVIANThe mound?
GABEWhat’s left of it.
VIVIANBut we have to stop them. We’re wasting time!
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GABEI’m not wastin’ my time. I thought you were all for it. You’ll finally be getting’ that gold.
VIVIANBut it’s somebody’s grave. Lucy said it’s not right to dig the mound.
GABESince when did you start listenin’ to her?
VIVIANI haven’t, completely, but just in case she’s right about those “ancestors”, is there anyway I could - - I mean, “we”, could stop them?
GABEI thought you didn’t trust the likes of me
VIVIANDo you see anybody else?
GABEI’ll need my boat and we have to stop and get Lucy. She won’t want to miss this.
GABE and VIVIAN exit.
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Scene SixTHE MOUND.
WOMAN
Can’t you hear those gold coins jingle?Can’t you see those gemstones mingle?Can’t you smell the money, honey?Darlin’, stick with me!Darlin’ wait and see Darlin’ stick…with…me!
She sets the lantern & shovel. GABE, LUCY and VIVIAN sneak in carrying a net hiding behind the trees. JACQUES and GUS are off stage relieving themselves. They have been nipping at a flask and as they enter GUS manages to smear mud across his face.
GUSIf it hadn’t been raining so hard I could show you how I can write my name in the sand.
JACQUESWhat talent! I didn’t know you could spell!
GUSAny chance I could get another little nip of that moonshine?
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JACQUES
If you just get your lousy self back to digging, there will be plenty where that came from.
GUSI know where there’s some not too far from here. Best hiding place I ever did see. Fellow’s got his still set up in a bullpen under a pile of manure. Got the bull in there with it! And he’s a mean bull too!
JACQUESThat’s enough of you and your bull. Dig! I want to be done with this before our princess wakes up and discovers she’s on a cruise.
GUS(Has trouble standing and totters over to the hole.)
Why don’t we got the gold yet?
JACQUESBecause, you’ve been sitting on your duff.
(VIVIAN, LUCY and GABE sneak in around the two men carrying a long net. LUCY let’s out a war cry.)
LUCYIeeeeeeeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaa!
GABE and VIVIAN(Repeating.)
Ieeeeeeeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaa!
(They wind the net around the two men and keep winding until they are one
big tangle and fall on the ground. VIVIAN has a frog gig which she points at the men.)
VIVIANHow dare you dig on my land!
JACQUESMrs. Marks! What a surprise! We thought you’d gone for a ride.
LUCYYou almost got her killed.
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JACQUESI’m sorry to hear that, but we had a deal.
VIVIANAnd I changed my mind.
JACQUESAnd I didn’t like it.
LUCYPretty big hole. You would almost fit.
GUSThe injun’s going to bury us alive!
LUCYDon’t worry. I wouldn’t dare desecrate this ground.
JACQUESNo harm’s been done. If you’ll remove your net, we’ll be on our way.
LUCYI don’t think so.
GABEI haven’t caught anything this ugly in years.
SONG: MIGHTY BIG CATCH
GABEChorus: Hey good folks, would you look at this?
We caught us two big ugly fish! Step right up, folks, and you will see The biggest catch in Mis-souri!
LUCY
A fool-proof plot they tried to hatch,The proof's the fools in our big catch.Ain't no one gonna believe their eyes,That we caught such a mighty prize!
VIVIAN
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Their own greed made for dandy bait,We didn't have long to sit and wait.We caught 'em as they tried to flee,The biggest darn fish you'll ever see!
Chorus: ALL
GABE
One's a cheat and one's a bum,They're common bottom-feeding scum.You think a gar has nasty looks?Just wait until you see these crooks!
LUCYJust watch 'em flop upon the ground,A-tumbling and a-rolling 'round.Big and fleshy, with buggy eyes,Ain't never before caught fish this size!
Chorus: ALL
VIVIANIn all my days, I ain't ever yet,Caught such big ones in my net.One here's got a mighty stench,I got a rare variety --- I think it's French!!
Chorus: ALL
LUCYCome on gentlemen, you’re going for a ride.
GUSMr. Jeanrue. I thought you said people believed you when you use an accent!
JACQUES(Dropping the accent.)
Ah, shut up!
LUCY(To VIVIAN.)
I told you he wasn’t from France.
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Scene SevenSHANTYBOAT.
SONG: MIGHTY BIG CATCHWOMAN
Their own greed made for dandy bait,We didn't have long to sit and wait.We caught 'em as they tried to flee,The biggest darn fish you'll ever see!
Hey good folks, would you look at this? We caught us two big ugly fish! Step right up, folks, and you will see The biggest catch in Mis-souri!
She puts a fish on the trot line and repositions trees. VIVIAN, LUCY and GABE approach the boat. GABE stays on the bank retying the ropes while LUCY climbs aboard.
VIVIANHow long will they be in jail?
LUCYFor a couple days anyway, I reckon.
VIVIANBut they tried to kill me! They can’t go free!
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LUCYYou might could hire you a big shot lawyer and get them locked up for a while longer, but it’ll cost you.
VIVIANWhat kind of justice is that?
LUCYDon’t mention justice around Gabe.
GABE(Stepping onto the boat.)
Did you say justice?
LUCYShe didn’t mean nothin’ by it, Gabe.
VIVIANYes. I did. I don’t understand how people who tried to kill me are going to spend a few nights in jail and then walk right out the door.
GABEThat’s because you don’t know how justice works around here.
LUCYGabe-
GABEIf the men who had done that to you was colored like me, they’d be hanging from a tree.
LUCYGabe, she just don’t understand-
GABEWell, she needs to understand that justice is a word and that’s all. It don’t mean nothin’. And you won’t be findin’ it around here, no matter how hard you look. These ropes will hold till morning. We got to go. (He exits.)
VIVIAN
Do you still have people to move?
LUCYThis bottom’s floodin’. We’ll just keep helping whoever we can.
VIVIAN
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What will happen to everybody?
LUCYWhen the river’s had her way with the land she’ll pull her watery fingers back in, the folks will come back too.
VIVIANInto those same houses? Won’t they just be wretched?
LUCYYes. And full of gumbo. But with a shovel and a wheelbarrow – --and lot’s of good strong backs. We’ll dig out, scrub down and move right back in.
VIVIANIf it’s underwater so often why do you stay?
LUCY Because, we like it so much when it’s not. Want to help?
VIVIANI’ve to get out of here before it’s too late.
LUCYWell, nothing’s stopping you.
VIVIANIt makes no sense for me to stay.
LUCYI guess not, unless, maybe you thought about somebody other than yourself.
VIVIANThat’s not fair. These aren’t my people.
LUCYWell, whose people are they? You came all the way out here to claim this land. It’s all you’ve got left of all you ever had and you’re fixin’ to walk away? To what? This is your land and with it come the people and the river runnin’ through it and if you could take those big city blinders off for even one minute you might see that what you have is all you need.
VIVIANYou expect me to live here?
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LUCYI guess I did. It’s the best home I’ve ever known. I can’t imagine wantin’ to be anywhere else.
VIVIANBut you don’t understand-
LUCYI don’t have the time it would take to understand you. This river is floodin’ and there’s people out there that need me way more than you do. (She yells.) Gabe! Wait up.
VIVIANBut Lucy, I-
LUCYThere you go again. Don’t you get it? It’s not “I”. It’s “We” and we’ve got a lot of work to do.
VIVIAN watches her go.
SONG: RIVER’S REACH
VIVIANRiver's rising o'er its banks,It's coming to my door.I watch it come and I want to run,Climb up to a safe, high shore.
Chorus: River's reach, you're out to get me,
I'm scared, confused, I need more time. River's reaching, drawing closer, Close to this lonely heart of mine.
The waters pooling around my feet,Why don't I run away?What's past is past. Water's rising fast,I must decide to go or stay.
Chorus
River's rising to my knees,Yet here I stand and stay.
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What's there to lose if I drown my blues?Go on! Take this poor soul away!
Chorus
River's rising to my waist,If I stay I'll surely drown.But I must confide, I feel a change inside---What I've lost, I might have found.
Chorus
VIVIAN sits and watches the river. MAN, WOMAN and JACQUES sing as the LIGHTS change from NIGHT to MORNING.
SONG: RIVER’s REACH reprise
Chorus: River's reach, you're out to get me,
I'm scared, confused, I need more time. River's reaching, drawing closer, Close to this lonely heart of mine. (Repeat)
The TRAIN goes by. VIVIAN listens and then exits into the cabin.
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Scene Eight
SHANTYBOAT. GABE steps on to the boat and takes off his muddy shirt just as VIVIAN comes back out of the cabin with a mug of tea.
GABEWhat you doing here?
VIVIANI was about to ask you the same thing.
GABE(Puts his shirt back on.)
I was planning to stay on the boat cause Lucy said you went back East.
VIVIANWell, I didn’t go.
GABE(Picks up his shirt and starts to go.)
I can see that. I’ll be leaving.
VIVIANNo, please don’t. I owe you an apology. I’ve treated you badly and I’m sorry. You saved my life.
GABE
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It was the neighborly thing to do.
LUCY(Yelling from off stage.)
You who! Gabe! Are you there?
GABE(Yelling back.)
Yea.
VIVIANI’ve sat here on the deck all night and into the morning just watching this river. In my entire life, I’ve never spent time like this; not speaking, not moving, just sitting and listening and watching. It’s the first time I’ve come up against a force bigger than me. I thought I was all there was. But this river has been making it very clear who is in charge.
(VIVIAN Cont.)I’ve seen entire trees float by, enough wood has gone down this river today to build a whole town. Then there was a whole rooftop, and a raccoon and her two babies clinging to a board for dear life. I actually wanted to save them. Me, Vivian Marks wanted to save raccoons, but there was nothing I could do. It’s rather frightening, really, and fascinating all at the same time.
GABEYou’ve got that right. I’ve lived by this river all my life and it’s taught me everything I know worth knowing.
LUCY(Climbs aboard and sees VIVIAN. GABE goes to check the ropes.)
Well, look whose here. What happened? Did you miss that train?
VIVIANI wasn’t very good at keeping track of the time this morning. They say it happens if you stay in the bottoms too long
LUCYThat’s what they say.
VIVIANYou’re a good person, Lucy.
LUCYMy momma raised me right. Gabe’s a good person too, you know. He is a person.
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VIVIANHow can it be that I have been so wrong about so many things for so long? I was convinced I had everything completely figured out.
LUCYThat doesn’t leave much room for “the possibles”.
VIVIANWhat are they?
LUCYAll the things that can happen when you don’t have everything figured out.
VIVIANWell, I sure got “the possibles” now.
GABECheck that line, see if we got breakfast.
LUCY motions to VIVIAN to check the line.
VIVIAN(She reaches for the line and it pulls on her hand.)
Oh. It’s moving! There’s something on the other end!
GABEI hope so.
LUCYWell, glory be! Look at the little fisher woman!
GABE joins LUCY to watch.
VIVIANWhat do I do? I’ve never caught a fish in my life.
GABEIt’s past time you did.
VIVIANIt’s so big and so heavy! What are we going to do?
LUCYWe gonna eat it!
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VIVIANHow?
GABEWe’ll show ya.
LUCYAnd that’s not all we can show ya—
VIVIANOne thing at a time, please.
LUCYHey, tell Gabe what you told me.
VIVIANLucy---
LUCYShe thinks we’re good people.
GABEWhat a relief.
LUCYVivian, you better watch out. You’re fixin’ to get stuck in this gumbo.
REPRISE: Gumbo Bottoms (Tune: John Stenson's #2)
VIVIANIt sucks you in, it pulls you down,It's slippery, sticky, rich and brown,It's clay-like muck that sticks like glue,It's stuff that holds on fast to you.
When the river floods and shifts the land,It leaves behind rich silt and sand.Walk on through this mucky goo,It'll take your boots right off of you!
Chorus: A gumbo is a soup, that's true --
Okra thickens it up like stew. Our gumbo bottoms are thick with mud,
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That sticky stuff gets in your blood. gumbo is "patois" they say -- By Creoles down New Orleans way. Our gumbo's mud and silt and sand-- Thick, rich "patois" of river land!
Now, gumbo has the power to heal,Its drying ways will form a seal.It'll draw the poison from your skin,And lets the healing time begin.
It's hard to leave, but if you do,You'll find that mud still stuck on you.Can't leave this place too far behind--Gumbo holds to your heart and mind
GUMBO BOTTOMS (cont.)
Chorus:A gumbo is a soup, that's true ---
Okra thickens it up like stew. Our gumbo bottoms are thick with mud, That sticky stuff gets in your blood. A gumbo is "patois" they say, By Creoles down New Orleans way. Our gumbo's mud and silt and sand, Thick, rich "patois" of river land.
Once you're here, you tend to stay, It's hard to shake off gumbo clay, Can't leave this place too far behind, Gumbo holds on fast to your heart and mine!
LIGHTS FADE TO BLACK
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