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1 DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE, INC. LSTANLISHIID AY MEMBERS OF THE DRAMATISTS GUILD ‘OW THI AUTHORS LIAGUE OF AMERICA fire HANDLING OF THE ACTING RIGHTS OF MEMBERS PLAYS HIE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE {HO Wh pe Soh, New Yk NEODIG Wwwedramacists.com THE MOUNTAINTOP py KATORI HALL DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICI INC. (CHARACTERS DR, MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CAMAE PLACE Room 306 at the Lorraine Motel TIME April 3, 1968; THE MOUNTAINTOP Lights up, Night. April 3, 1968. Ream 306 ‘The Lorraine Ligh ea Tonnes, The side set Lahn rai an dows ofan ding don te pane one He “The rel room door eveaks open. The rain BOW ouside. The at ey Later King,Jr. Tred.Overerongit i pad take is soe of andere ia be “He coughs Ht mands in the dor, th eda He rg eating a lw ono bis fe Heyes out of he door Jno the stormy’ KING. Albrnathy got mea pack of Pall alles when 7 88 Nawe Naw, Naw crn le Toa ike hose Winstons yous Nan te iy all ou ke want me 3 Pl ‘Mall. Pall Yow on be cheap. Be back soon, man. Tm W075 1, an it ws Thats ht» (He des the He lacks the aad i dais he dor. Rae, Then be pal the curtain see the window Hews arene in th Sark du be knows Hore rom well. He ars on ane Ka instantly il I a eo ater ain pockmark te wl Bi re Maing brown is decor ace tera The che the color of bie fain es Unban his sir Cou A hee fase lies Hee a bc, covered with ramped fe sees. He cups sr paper from le be, rw Avy America is Me alle He gat int the thr ‘why America is eine va el sa" OE ne bi cine uses the silet. He 1 ck nt he rom.) Ty relly gonna burs ne the cross ste aroma tne lamp thet inset are the for Americ, you are 100 ARROGANT, (ite goes tothe night= rae Nick Ue emp coer cs) Shas Sal 1 3 ‘what mye (He goes tothe black roary phone om the nightstand descent beds. He dal) America... Ameri — (He tp In con plete silence: unrest receiver. Checks the phone fot bugs. Nowe there. Soeur the rcrver back, Checks the nighatand, None there Sighs. Dials again) Room sevice? There's not any mat fo ice tonight? When did ie sop? Las weck? We wets let lit week and yall were sl serving room service til mhlght, Hee lays able to gee mea cup of coffee when I wantel it, Newled it, Pando? jue wane a coffe: One cup. (Pas) Thank you! Got da some ‘work befor Igo to bed. You can bring it on up Room 306. (He smiles abroad smile) Yes, we cal tthe "King Abernathy Suite,” too. | appreciate tha, si We thane you fot yor prayer, sis Were zor gonna stop. These sanitation workers gona fst the du. Pa hereto. male sure of that. Yes, sit My aiogtaph, sie (Beat) Unhbhh .. T dant give those out. I only give thinks. Sory. ie Yes ell be righ up? Five minute? Thank you kil. Kindly. He ‘hangup. He giver the phane a “what the fuck was tha about” ook) “America, America, my country tis of tee.” (He begins take aff bis shoes) °"My countey who doles out vostant misery — "(He ‘ells them.) Wooo! Sweet Jesus, | got marching feet and we aint even marched yet! (He throws thers down. He turns wo rifle ‘through his sites) Shi. She forgot co pack my eoothbeush again (He dials on the rotary phone. Singing to himself) Corte, pick up ‘ote pc yp, Core, Con Cone ck up soon. ‘te pus the phone down.) Ny country who doles out constant mi cy. War abroad. Then war in your scree. (Under hit breath) “Arrogant America.” What shall I do with — (He throws bimcelf back om the bed. Thee isa knack at the door. He ruths to go and answer He undoes the deadbolt, thon the chain) Reverend, about time, man. The store sine but down the sect — (Enter Camae, a beautiful young maid. She sands in the doorvay, one hand holding Sastre ie lesbernasb teneoc taster aga we with cup of offic) CAMAE Room servic, st KING, That was fae CAMAE, "Well, [been called quickie Camae bef. He is taken ‘buch, stunned by er benury She oat and wate and wots. He nape our oft) KING, Where ae my mannces? Come on in. (He eps aide She suas in, Dripping ove everything) CAMA. Where would you lke me to pu hi 6 KING, On the table over chere. (She sets he nay on the downstage sable, bending slightly at the waist. King appreciates his view, Beat ‘She los back; he looks away.) How much is that gonna cost? CAMAE. Folk down there say its on the house. For you. It like this yo' house, they say. So you aint gotta pay them. But you can pay me a tip for getin’ my press’ cul wer out inthis ain. (She holds out her han. He smiles and pulls money fiom bis bifold) KING. You new? CAMAE, Fise day, si KING. Tha why. I havent seen you before, Stayed here plenty a times, bur T¥e never sen yout face. CAMAE. I done seen yo's befa’ though. KING. Oh, have you? CAMAE. OF course. On the TV down ar Woobworth's You like the Beatles. KING. Wish folks would listen to me like they listen to the Beatles, CAMAE, Mm-hm, ‘Specially white folks. (King laughs, shen breaks into fit of cong.) Sound like you needin’ some te2, not no cok fee. You gora cold? KING. (Staining) Jus done got ro getting hoarse. Shouting. CAMAE. And caryin’ on, KING. No, not catrying on. Testifying. CAMAE. Shame Iain get a chance o sce ya tonight. I heard you carried on a storm up at Mason Temple. KING. How you know? CAMAE. Negro tallesrke faster than lightnin’. They say fll was all cryin’. Sangi’. Mmph. Mmph, Mmph. I woulda liked ro have seen tha. Somethin’ to tell my chirten. “When I wunit nothin’ but achick-a-dee, I seent Dr. Martin Luther Kang, Jr, cuttin’ up inthe pulpit.” Mmmhmmmm, I bee that was somethin to se. (King goes to peck out the window.) KING. Wish ic had been more folks there CAMAE. How many was there? KING, Mmmm. A eouple thousand, CAMAE. Honey, tha a lor. KING. Coulda been more, in my humble opinion CAMAE. Bue ie was stormin’. Tornadoes and all get out. You cane get no Negro folks our in no tai lke this, KING. And why is that? CAMAE. Godilstike you down if you move ound 100 much. ‘That what my momma used «0 say. When it storm like this my ‘momma say, “Be sill” Buc thank she just wanted cirren to st ‘our tls down somewhere ‘cause the lightain’ spooked! her nerves so bad. Personally [just thank God be atin’ up. KING. Do He? Is thac why you dida' come? (ume. She want 0 say something, bu changes her mind) CAMAE. ‘Nav my Tse dy here At work, Wane come in cat. KING. Well, cant blame folks. Shoot, Lal CAMAE, Why thac? KING. Ain been feeling to0 good. CAMAB. Aww alitle sche KING. You could say tha... Personally, I donit dhink God's what ‘kop folks in chit houses tonight. Folks just son cae CAMAE, Folks aid of gettin blown up. Churches ain even safe for us folks. (Thunder and lghoning. Boom. Boom Crackle! King ups slighty) You aight? KING. (Fidgering) Sure. re. (Beat. She goes sage ef she checks the bathrooms Takes some wot tes out and ings them aco ber shoulder) CCAMAE. You need anythang else “fore I go? KING. Actually... ifyou gota cigaret CAMAE. “‘Ciguces and coffe! That ant a diet bei’ of preacher, KING. “Judge noc and ye shall noc be judged.” ‘CAMAE, Honey, hears that. I guess if you was at home youd be atin’ mt righe KING. I suppose CCAMAE, ‘Whac you miss che most she make? KING. Her ogg sandwiches. CAMAE, “Mmmm. [likes them, too. Make one every day for myself (She pulls on a pac of igre. fers hin one. He wakes it daly, Look at it elsly. Staring ber down, be puts itn his mouth. ‘She takes out a lighter Lights it for him) KING. Not too many women tanning ‘ound smoking Pll Mal Impressive. CAMAE, Quite. My daddy smoked Pall Malls. Said Kool ill ya, KING. Have yourself one CAMAE, Wha? « dida go KING, Smoke one with me. CAMAE. (Sinilng.) Nav, naw; Preacher Kang. You "bout to have iy boss up afer me. I don't know whae the rules is yer. Don't know where the datk comers in this place is to hide and smoke ‘my Pall Malls, Dont even know which rooms to lay my head for a quick ap. KING. What aboue this one? (Beat. She loks atthe bed.) CAMAE. Last folk up in here was doin’ the hoochie-coochie for ‘pay. L would lay dawn in chat bed if somebody paid me. KING, So what kinds of rules does lite lady lke you break? CAMAE. None that involve no preacher, I cells ya tat KING. Everybody should brea rule every now and chen, CAMAE. Yesse. Is agrees witcha, But not tonight... Noc tonight, KING. Have one wit me, Aint nobody gonna come looking fr you CAMAE. (Nervous laughs.) You the one gone get caught Kidnapping me lige this. KING. Just one-Til my friend come back with my pack. (Beat ‘She sighs. She rakes a cigarete out and lgha it, Inhale, Les it all ou They look at each other.) CAMAE. "You sholll do try haed a it KING. Well. you're pret CAMAE. I know, Even my uncle coulds’t help hisself. You have fan tonighe? KING, Fun? CAMAE. It gotta be fun, Otherwise you wouldnt doit KING, Noc any fan ia this CAMAE. Sound like grand fan co me. Standin’ up there in the middle of then great big old churches. People elappia’ for you. Fallin’ out. (To henelf) Must be muthafuckin’ grand co mean so, much to somebody. Shit, GODDAMN, muse be grand. (Beat) ‘Where a needle and thread to sew up my mouth? Here Tis just a- ‘aussie’ all up in front of you, Dr. Kang, | cuss worser than a sailor ‘with the cap. Oo00, God gone get me! I'm goin’ to ell just for ‘aussie’ in front of you, Fallin’ sraight to hell. (He laugh.) KING, No mam, ‘condin’ co your face, you done fell staighe From heaven. (King sips his coffe.) CAMAE. You li pulpit poet, you. I likes you. KING. likes you, too. (The phone rings.) Excuse me CAMAE. Well, Ill just be on my — (He motions for ber to stay. Tien puts on bis “King vice.) KING. De. King, here. (Voice sift.) Ob. Corte, Ye. | id call. You digit pick up. Ob. You were at a meeting, Oh, It sent fine. [Not as many people there, bur ... it was enough 1 an geting hoarse Iknow. Yes, 'm drinking my ca. Ti drinking ta right now (Fle looks at Camae who snickers. He motion fir er tobe quict.) Yow know you Forgot co pack my toothbrush? Yep. (He laughs, chece ie ‘reath) 1 juse gee another one in the morning. Dont worry, dar- ling, You cant remember everything, (Silence) Did they call? What they say this time? Hmmm. Hmm, Ugly voices, Muph. You wor- ried? Tm nox. (He takes a long dogg om his cigarte,) The children asleep? Oh, She still up. She shoulda’c be up slate past midnight. Oh, she cane sleep. Well, et me tll eo het, (Puws.) Hey, its Baw. ‘Mmm-hmm. What Paw say? You have listen to your maw whea Paw’s nor there. Yes. You having trouble sleeping? Me, too, some- time. You know what Ido? I just ly down and pray fora bie and that makes me nod off in no time. Ie makes everything real peace- ful You promise you gonna be good? Olay, let Paw speak to your ‘maw. Oh. She’ in the bathroom, now? Just cll Yolanda and the boys Pawill see ‘em when I ger back, Tell Maw I love her. Good night, Bernice. (He hangs up the phone.) CAMA. You shouldnt lie like that KING. Like wha? CAMAB. Alo drankie’ tea, Lyin’ ei KING. Coffee cant cure a cold, can ie? CAMAE. Coffee wit’ some whiskey in it can. (She pulls ou «flask sand cats @ dollop into bis cup.) This what the Irish call “cough syrup.” (King laughs heartily) She's beautiful. Yo! wife. T seen'e ber ‘on the TV down at Woolworth’, too, Cares Scott K — KING. (Correcting) Mr, King, CAMAE, Oh, Yes. Mrs, King. (He drinks hi offic) KING. The color of coffee with a lot of mill and a lor of sugar. Juse how ike i. CAMAE, Wel likes my coffe black and biter. (He looks at the name tag on her ches) KING. “Carrie Mae.” Thaes not what you ssid earlier, CAMAE, Folk shorten it Call me Camae, KING, Cariemae? CCAMAE. "Nave naw, naw! CA-MAB, Came, KING. Doesn't make any sense CAMA. It do too, Say ie wit’ me, (Slow) Cama. 10 KING, Cammmae. CAMAE. Came KING. (Tearing) CAR-mac? CAMAE. (Anniyed) CAMAE! KING. (Laughing) Camae CAMAE. (Laughing, to.) Right! Right! There ya go. Sound good comin’ outcho mouth KING. Alot of things do. CAMAE. Shoill do. KING. Sho'll do. (Beat,) CCAMAE. Well, you ax for me if you need anythang ele use pick up the phone and give me holla The switchboard manl ee. KING. [ean ask for you expecially? CCAMAE. Ime is what you wane. (Bort) KING. Alrighty then CAMAE. Alrighty then. (Cama slowly makes her way tothe doo. ‘She lots back 0 him. Smile. Se then opens the door. The storm bat {ushered more fury ouside. BOOM, BOOM. BOOM) KING. (rutering) Cocca [ask you a question before you go? ‘And you promise to answer me open and hones? CCAMAE. Depend on what the question i KING. You wont think me less of man, if ask? CAMAE. T might. KING. ive been needing a womans perspective on this CCAMAE. Like I say it depend on dhe question, Shoot. (Sh cle the dor Beat) KING. Do you think I should shave off my mustach CAMAE. Yes as jus sayin’ that co myself jun the so damn ugly with that mustache.” KING. Really? CCAMAE. "Naw! I thought you was gone ask me about somethin’ ‘ma’ importane than tht. KING. Thac is important! My physical appearance is imporeane. “To the people. CAMAE. Go on somewhere wit that! KING. Tim serious! Tell me the uth, Mustache, no mustache? (He cover bis mustache with bis hand, then uncovers and covers agen.) Mustache, no mustache? Mustache, no mustache? CAMAE. (Laughing) Whereis that man witeho Pall Malls so you can stop axin’ me czy questions? (Beat) He look n KING. I dont know where Raph i, 1 just ch ‘woratis pinion, CCAMAE. "Wells have you acd yo wife? (Bt, KING. No CAMAE. Wel ax her then, She the one supposed o make them Kinds of decions anyway (ing goo the itor deste and pert hfe) KING. Justi wo sive some yet of I done goto looking old CAMAE. You have. You look ode. In person, When women ge elder, thy getup: When men gt older they get handsome ‘Weinls Took good on a man. Tspecilly when ticy go some sony ogo wit thy wrinkles KRING. ‘Women do ike men with wrinkles, don chy? CAMAE. T done. kes em young and wi. Like me KING. Like your CAMAE. Ye Preacher Kang KINGS atte memos) Uwe 0 be young and wk are CCAMAB. You a preacher. Tha part! lob equtement. How you know what you at supponl oda ifyou aint done jase? Folk wont listen to you athe Thar what [el "work exper ence” More than ual ya forthe poston, KING. And what qual you wo be maids CCAMAE, Tn beat cleat wp ober falls meses than my own, Tvs led doth KING. Wal think Twas, coo. (ings thas cigar is gone ‘Can I have another one? Ef : sie CAMAE. You aint gone lave me hereto work through the night wi nothia wo smoke on. Shhh ooo All gor one sae le KING. ethan we can sate? (ie moves laser her Beat.) AMAL, “Tie, Ty you SHOE ty and tite fe lis KINGS Wel the spi wing, but the Mesh is weak. As he pa the lloing ie ands i br tiga. igh for bi Then trun der enpy pac nosh rah et) CAMA." Mapp, AIMPHThos goddamn fall go you chaismoki’ hater dh a muthaficka, (eae) Thee 1 go! Got 19 csi ain Lan 0 sry, Preacher Kang Lam SO SORRY. Should be Mame of myc Gud gone ge efor that one, toa hn Td gee a KING. Don't worry. I forgive you CAMAE. T'm ghd somebody do. (They lok a each other soft) KING. Well, [guess you got other folks’ messes to clean up... 1 done mean co keep ya. Dont forget your umbrella (Pe hand her the wer newspaper the had brought in) CAMAE, Unh, unk, That aint mine. Thass yours. Boss told me co bring chat up for you. Sour, I got it wet KING. Well T thank ya. Thank ya kindly. (le loks at the news- paper) Apel 4th? Howd Val get tomorrows paper? CCAMAE, (She shrug.) Tomorrow already here KING." (Reads) "King Challenges Court Restraint. Vows 0 March.” They goc that right! This Mayor Locb cals himself nat allowing these sanitation workers to march (To himself) Over my dead body. “Yesterday oso U.S. marshals spe across own to serve the Nego leaders with copies ofthe onder. They found Dr. King ane four ater defendantsac the Loraine Motel.” He reads f= ther and further) CAMAE, Folks can send you flowers. Since they know where you KING, Thar ain’e the only thing they can send me. (Reads) “The city sid i was seeking the injunction as a means of protecting De. King ... ‘We ae featfil tac in the turmoil of che moment, someone may even harm Dr. King’ life... and with ll the force of hinguage we can us, we wane to emphasize chat we dont want that to happen ..." (Chuckles to hinself) Wish the mayor had jurisdiction over aie planes, too. You know, Camae, somebody. talled in a bomb threat on my plane from Atlanta to Memphis today? Thank God they dida' find one. CAMAE. use another day om the job. KING. Mmmimm, CCAMAE, Civil rights il ya fo! them Pall Malls wll. Beat. They look at cach other. Then laugh realy REALLY bard) KING. Tike your sense of humor. Like mine ..- morbid. (They laugh harder and harder... BOOM! Crile, CRACK. The under roll King juan, terribly frightened. Slightly embarrased, laughing it aff) Whee Though they got me! He puts bis hand over his best. He begins to breathe hard) CCAMAE, You alright! You alrighe! KING. Yes. Yes. Lam. (He sis to collee himself) CCAMAE, Don tll mea grown man like you fad of li lgh 3 KING. No. (Beat) No, that’ not what Fi afraid of CAMAE, Oh. The thunder? KING. Yes, the sound. Ie sounds like — CAMAE. Fireworks. (He contemplate this fora sell) KING. Yes. Indeed it does. CAMAE. Doni be scurred of li fireworks. [loves me some fre works. Mama used co take us on dawn to Tom Lee Patk to see the fireworks every Fourth of July. KING. Independence Day, CAMAE. ‘That right, all bougie black folk call it Independence Day: I cant seem to quite alli that yet. KING. You shall is pretry, Camae. CAMAE, That bout the third time you dane role me that KING. Second. CAMAE. The firs time you told me witcho eyes KING. You saw me? CAMAE, Hell, a blind man coulda seen the way you was borin’ holes through my clothes. Awww, you blushin’? (King nods his ead.) KING. Which is really hard fora black man todo, Tm embarrassed. ‘CAMAE. Shuga, hush. You justa man, IT was you, Ti be star’ KING. Well, guess ies your turn to forgive me. CAMAE. Forgiven and forgotten KING. ‘Thank you, Camae. For the .. square? CAMAE. I got some family from Detroit: That wha they allem up there KING. So you've been to Detroit? Howd you like i? CAMAE. T said I gor family from up there. [aint never been. KING. Dont. CAMAE. Why? KING. Negro folks done seemed to have lost their manners up there. Like co riot and carry on, CAMAE. Honey, I need to move up there then, ‘Cause these white folks dovn here "bout co be carchin’ flies now the way they he actin wit” Negroes these days. T need to catch the frst Greyhound up there. Deteoic niggah heaven, you ax me, KING. So are you an honorary Panther? (She growls like a panther shes prety good.) CAMAE, ‘Walkin’ wil only get you so far, Preacher Kang, KING. Were not juse walking; wee matching. “ CAMAE. Whatever itis, i aint workin KING. Te docsnfe work when you have wifling Negroes who cal themselves using a peaceful protest to get a frce color television, CAMAE. Who done did that? KING. Just lsc week me and my men organized a march for — CAMAE. Them garage men? KING. (Correcting) Yes the sanitation worker, Muse have been thousands upon thousands of people there. ‘Thowsinds! Everybody from old men to eenage gies oltde boys holding up signs that read, TAM A MAN. Somehow they squcezed me tothe font, we linked arms and the march began. “l AM A MAN! LAM A MAN!" we shouted. Wel, we hadnt walked but one block before we heard the sound of glass breaking I vas swepe up in a womado of arms, eps, coughing, mace. [didnt wanna leave chose people, Cama. 1 did not wanna leave chem, but... my men pushed me fat a passing car and looked through dha back window and saw such blessed peace descend into chaos. Beat.) Dorit they know, you cant be march’ ‘down the set, bust inco store windows, and then go get you a free color television. Were marching fora ing wage... nota damn color ‘TV! Ie jst gives these police an excuse ro shoot innocent folks. Like tha boy... char sixteen-year-old boy they shor, Last week? (Quietly 0 ‘imself) Larry Payne. Larry Payne. Lary Payne. Tl never Forget his ‘name... Well, we back and we gonna doit right this time. So Larry Payne wont have to have died in van. (Fe peeks out of the window aking as if Cama is no hee.) Where is that nigga wit my pack? CAMAE. Maybe he gor stuck takin’ wit! some crazy lady in a ‘motel room, coo. (King doesnot laugh.) Tm fury. Laugh, KING. I'm worried. don't want anything to happen to him, He happen upon something in the night, don’ know what Fd do without im, CAMAE. ‘That your bes fiend? KING. More loyal than a dog. He the one called me down to the church conight. Gor me out of bed. Just aint been fel’ right. (Camae gazes at bim soil. King shakes himself out of it) Fe proba- bly downstairs wit’ my brother nem. Don like to hang around me too much, I done got to bein’ so moody nowadays. “Forget about last week, Martin,” he says. Forget about ie... (He painfy smile) After the march, the papers called me “Chicken A La King.” Said [was a Commie coward that leaves other people to clean up my mess. Martin Lower King 5 CAMAE, Seem ike ics been i ough on you, KING, Who you teling? Who ae you ting peck ou of the window) Tis rani seks, Looking somsoon i Memphis CAMAE. (She bole a him somber) Wal, Go ie gone sop sh ae meson (hen ers halle Ba Se takes it She eal dag econ bringer nd er KING. Yousmote lea San i CAMAE. You smoke like uc KING. dwar, Camae, dont we those kinda words CAMAE, ‘Whar you soo othe ris? KING. Indeed iJ. Ala God's chien got wing CAME. Walger ont oe Bt yo jean frolic phe KING. Wal ho am I supposed eo smoke i? CAMAE, Like is going oof ike you need ie Like you wan it Thats how smoke, Makes woman fe sexy bet Tow wy you smoke, KING, Why? CAMAE. To el en "Cate you lok te (Bet) KING. Av, Camac: Now yoa rely makin me blish, (we) 1 do though dont CAMAE ‘Dr Manin Lace Kang, Js Sook. Ac hat some- thi? Wish I could take a pieue of KING, Whar you withthe FBP CAMAE. Naw Something bigger. (She bonds him bak the ig ree. He amok ite a nan “Fe sri oe ene bes ot ‘smoke ring Camac pretend to nappa Perey go the to ult alae Har you wan ete os le you goreo amok ithe people That Yay the peopl Ten to ya, (Beat) i KING. Yow don think ey en? CAMAE. Oh, thy tixen, They go ou and march, Then dhe get the press crane by fire hoc Fo done got ed though Sih Lik Taya wl nl get 0 a KING, (nyo Wel kl’ wl ge you Fung, GAMA: Ain wo imo bu no ili, Cama about as-vhippn’. How abouta march for se-nbippin? KING, Thats not gonna de " CAMAE, Well enc so be din’ someti! ee. 16 KING. So what ate we supposed to do? CAMAE. Somethin’. Somethin’ else. Hell, I got bunions and. corns for days. (Camae takes off her shoes ana sts down on the bed 10 rub her fet) KING. Yall Negroes always wane 10 complain bue never have another plan of action. You sound worse than Andy or better yet, Jesse. Everybody can shoot holes in your ideas, but they can only ‘come up with “somethin’ else.” CAMAE. T gor a plan. Bur .. Um juse a woman, Folk never lis: KING, So if you were me, what would you do CAMAE. Really? You wanna knov hat lil old me would do? KING. Yes CAMAE. You really wanna know what Pi de? KING, Yes. I. Do, (Beat) CAMAE, Can I borrow your jacket? KING, Sure CAMAE, And yo! shoes? (He hand shem t0 ber. She puts them on ‘She stands on top af one ofthe beds. King looks on in au. She sedis ‘herself. Throwghoua her speecb King is her congregasion, egging her on tei well-smed sayings like, “Well” “Preahl” Or “Make i plain!” With « "King" woice,) Chaueht We have gathered here today to deal ‘wich a serious isue, Iris an isue of great paponderance — you like thae? — Paponderancel Ic is a matter of importance more serious thin my overgrown mustache: HOW do we deal with the white rman? I have told you thar the white man is our brother. And he should be reared as such. We touch our brother with the softest of hands. We pret our brothers withthe widest of smiles. We give our brother food when he is hungry. But its hard to do this when our Drocher beas his fist upon our flesh. When he greets us with “"Nigget” and "Go back to Affiea,” when he punches usin our bel- lis swelling with hunger. Abel was slain by his brother Cain and je lke che Biblical sims, oday the white man is killing his Negro brethren, shackling his hands, keeping us from rising co the stare we are booooouuuuund co accupy. We have walked. Oue feet swelling with each step. We have been drowned by hoses. Our dreams being ‘washed away. We have been bitten by dogs. Our skin forever scared bby hatred ac its height. Our godly crowns have been turned into ash- taays for white men at lunch councers all across the South. To chis I ‘ay, my brethren, a new day is coming. I'm sick and tired of being ” sick nd tied, and today isthe day that I rel ou to KILL the white ‘man! (Sit vce) But not with your hands: Not with your guns Buc with your min! Back regular vice) We ae lighting 0 sit atthe same counter, but WHY, my brothers anu sien? We should build our own counters. Our own restaurants. Our own acighbothoods. Our own schools."The white man sin got nothin want, Fuck the white man! FUCK the white man! I say, FUCK “em! (Camae lok King ooo emtarnsed) | AM SO SORRY, Preacher Kang. Oooo just cane control my mouth, KING. Obviously neither can I (She eps doton off the bed. And ‘begins to pul of bs ache) CAMAE, Wall you axed. Thats what would say. if.. was you KING, Thats whae you would have me sy? CAMAB. Why noe? KING, “Pack the white man"? (Long heavy bet) I likes that. 1 think carl be che eof my next sermon CAMAE, Oooooo! Folks aint gone know what to do with that. KING. Amen! Fuck em! CAMAE, Tever though 1 hear you sty KING, Ooo00! They got me so tied, Cama. Ales rippin’ and runnin’ rippin? and runnin’, around this entie world and for what? FOR WHAT? White folks dont scem 0 want to len Maybe yout right. Maybe the voice of violence isthe only voice ‘white fol steno. He coughs) Tn tied of shouts and ea yin’ on, like you sey. Tim hoarse. (He grubs Catach flask and ‘nk Sms wonder wh hy fom This ae ts, I have sen so many white people hate us, Camae, Bombin’ fol’ homes, Shootin folks blowup children CAMAE. Make you scared to bring a Negro child ino this wood, the way they be blowin’ fem wp KING. Yes, Camae! They hates easly, and we ove too much CAMAE. Last time I heard you was preachin’ “everybody the fame.” Negro folk: White fll. We all alike KING. Well tthe most human level we ar all he same, CAMAE. What one thing we all got in common? (Beas, He sears urd come up with an answer) KING. We sare, Camae. We all scared. Scar of cach other. Sard of ourselves, They jus scared. Seared of losin’ somethin that they've known heir whole fives, Fear makes us human, Well need the same basic tings. hug. A smile. A 18 CAMAE, Smoke? KING. Frnated) Which I could use one more of. Whereis chat nirgah wit’ my pad? (Coma gr tothe window but cant se past {he main) Fle ways ou there runnin his mouth. Worse than me tomtines, You sx him? CAMAE. Now KING. Hell bback He know I don' ike 1 be alone 0 long, (Bet, He lots back toward Camae) 1 jst with you bad anatce one. Te share, of couse. (Cama ple amother pack of Pal Mall ios ber maid uniform. King ands cenfued) 1 drought you gave imeyour last one? CAMAE. Tid Burma magician. Igoe more whee that ame from. KING. More icks up you ler? CAMAE, Well ax you can ll. Taint yo oninaryole mad, (He leks ber up and dewn) KING. Cerainly Cerin! Not roo many maid spouting of well-formed dias like that CAMAE. Whar you shank us po fall cat Yu than we dumb? KING. Naw, navy thats not what Tai, now — CAMAE. You tank you always got alk for ws? KING. Noy hats not what | id — CAMAE. Then what you sayin? KING. Tim syn. chat most aids dont sound ike professors. CAMAE. ‘Well lecmesehool you, you bougie Negro. I dont need ft PhD. wo give you some knowledge, undead, Divinity school? HUE! You dont know who you MESSIN’ WITT KING, Wal, Camae just jas like ya syle, Didnt mean co cffend ya. Just waned to compliment ya, You sang teal prety. (She calms down) CAMAE. Well tell me... How are my “ratorcl sills" — se, yen thank I knew them words — How are my oraoricl sls Compared vo — KING, Mine CAMAE. Sho. (eat) KING. Tim beter CAMAE. "Anvorrelly, now? KING, You made sound ral prety, now, but aly .. I'm bet tex Nobody can make it prety like me, Tve been doing this for Yrs, dali. Gos be dot ide day Td CAMAE. Bur wait god? 19 KING. Fora woman, yes CAMAE. And if was a man? KING. Then youd be Malcolm X, CAMAE. 0, you callin’ Malcolm X a sissy? KING. No, thats noc whae I said, Miss Camac. CAMAE, You callin’ Malcolm X a sissy! KING. No, I'm nos, Camae. CAMAE. Tina tell iton you! (She run and pens up the door and sereams at she wp of her lungs into she pouring night sky) MAL- COLM, MARTIN THANK YOU A SISSY! KING." CAMAE! Come from out that door! / You gone get STRUCK! CAMAE. You hear that, Malcolm! He callin’ you A SISSY! (The ‘hander ros and Camae laughs atthe sy shreatening ta eracle again. ‘To Malcolm in she sky) Vd strike himw down for that, 100 if | was you. (King grabs er bythe waist and slams the door) KING. Dida your mama teach you how tobe sll when ies thun- dering and lightning? CAMAE. Dida’ I tll you I was haedheaded and aint mind her cone bit? KING. Well, God dont like to be laughed at CAMAE. Why? I laugh at God all the time. God funny as hell. God 2 fuuuuuuinny-ass muthafcka. (Beat,) KING. 1 dont like the way you tak about God, You might need to leave, you blasphemin’ God like that. (Beat) CAMAE. 1 was just cryin’ co make you laugh. Bring a ide laugh- ter 0 your life. I like makin’ falks laugh, Preacher Kang, God knows you need it — KING, I donit mind laughin’. I like a good jake. Got to Nowadays. 1juse dont like how you tll about God CAMAE. T'm sorry. God donit mind it. God ai ike siaiy folk Goad even like ditty jokes, KING. How you know whae God like? CAMAE, “Cause T do. I know God liked Malcolm X. And you ‘woulda liked him, too, He didnt drank, Smoke, Cuss. Or Cheat, On, His Wite, Beat) KING. (Wind) And how ate you privy co this information? (She stares im down) CAMAE, Like Isl befo', Negro tall strike faster than lightni’ (Pase.) Did you ever meet him? 2» KING, Once, But we never go a chance co CAMAE, Tale KING, Before he gor — CAMAE. Kil (Pas) Thats a shane KING. He was only 39. (1 himelf) Ti 39. Pase) CAMAE, Hein heen, KING. ts thc righ CAMAE, You se him thee One dy. KING. Came, you alla lot of nonsense 0 CAMAE. Nonsense comin’ cut of prety Wo nonsense all Is poetry KING. No, I chink ats — what would yo kinda folk say bul CAMAE. Oooo, Ike it when ya feathers et ull You gt al blunt. Ielook cite on you But you wil In heaven KING. So you think he fn heaven ight now? CAMAE. "Why wouldrc he be: KING. i don know, now. He lke alot of — CAMAE. True KING. A lot of violence. He hada weakness fr vioene words Spek by the sword, de by the sword CGMIAE Sy le deb hte aoe) Weal he wake nese, Preacher Kang. Tn you ot yo! ov, Js aint neve lt nobody. know. Bea) Fr what worth, know God like ou The rel you KING. Do Herel? CAMAE, She likes you KING, Shee CAMAE, She tld me She lke you, That if you was in heaven, youl be Her husband KING. (Sma bi soty grin) Ob, Cama! I that what God sid CAMAE. Yeap. KING. $0 God in love with me? CAMAE. She ain “in love.” She “in like!” In lke with Her some De. Kang. KING. | think God aint told you nothin’ [think ifs you who want me for yo' husband. CAMAE. Mmmmm. Me and God aint gor the same est. I dont Tike no man wit’ no smelly fet. a KING, ‘They do stink, dont they? Dont tell nobody. CAMAB. Honey, yo! shoes off I thank the whole world know by now. Who woulda thunk Dr. Kang got stanky feet? Oooo! And you got holes in yo socks, 100? (King langhs at her At hime) KING. You make i easy. CAMAE. Make what easy? KING. ‘To make a man forget about it all. About... all. this CAMAE. Thac what Tm here for, KING. What else you here for? (He has begun vo takeoff i sie, He struggles a bit. Het gotten stuck.) CAMAE. What, you yin’ co lynch yo'tel®’ Here, let me help ya (They stand face ro face, Clee. Cama slowly untangle: him from it He stares into her face. Transficed. He reaches up t0 touch ber fice ‘She smiles) KING. Thank you, CAMAE. You welcome, (BOOM! BOOM! Crick! CRACK! He stumbles back in a dace. Ftnt. He begins to hold his cbs.) You aight? KING. cant breath. CAMAE. Well, I've been known to have that effect on mens. KING. No, I mean. [cant, I cant / cai can cant. Breathe — CAMAE, Oh, my God. Oh, God / Did T do something wrong? KING. 1 can' cant cant / breathe, I can't breathe, CAMAE. Oh, my God! I did / something weong! I dd something! KING. Canic cane / can't cant can cat breathe — CAMAE. Just look into my eyes. Just look right chere, KING, Tent. leant. Teanit. CAMAE. Michael? KING. Cant cant / cant — CAMAE, Michael! Michael! MICHAEL! Michael, just breathe! KING. (Sotto wee.) Cant anit / can't CAMAE. Tima get you through this, Tima get you through this, night. (ust as s00n asi stars, she shunder in King bear stops, and ‘ests stunned, sarin at Camae. Silence. hey breathe together =. in th oi Oi oo i ous OE vo) KING. You called me Michael. CAMAE, (Knowing she did JT did? KING. Yes. You. Did. You called me Michael, CAMAE. You — you — scared me — KING, How would you know that? CAMAE, Know what? 2 Sia, KING. you KNOW WHAT THE HELL PM TALKING Sin Sear ry job! KING. I don't wanna hear it. Gee out. CAMAE. No, KING. i std get ot. You spook. CAMAE, Twas only dong ny job — KING. [sad GET OUT! Coming in here sempting ne! (Evie King overturns the rica, searching for bgt be may have gosed over) CAMAE, Preacher Kang? ; KING. (eel to no one in pra) What, al hink youcan ap 220 Rane ne witha woman? Wel, youre nox ping catch ne! CAMAE, Preacher Kang, top / acing 90 persnoi KING, Sending apes © my wie Tipo beak up my far “Tip to Break ny sped CCAMAE, Preacher Kang, calm dow KING. ‘You think you cn break mel (Sreaming te neon in per sealer) Wel, YOU cant ica me! You WILL NEVER BREAK ME AGAIN! (King gb Camae by her arm and geese pull er inward te doo) : CCAMAE, Youre hurting me Preacher / Kang, yout hurting me! KING, How much hey py yoo. 90 spn How mh CAMAE. Lee go, youre hung me KING. Where hell i Ralph Raph I goc a spok! CAMAE, You wrong! You wrong? KING. Whee Inthe HELL is Ralph? HEY! (He pen she door. 23 sul of nw covers the doors) HEEBescey (A huge gust ofuind Bini ths let fa Hees goof Con He sends in ane, Lokg ate ts) Issa Ape CAMAE. Te snow sometime in spring. Feta Memphis (He loos back at hr eos bak at he sno a if. He ok ach 4 er agun. Beat He clots he dor. Then open iain He Bénks) ING. Wal here. The snow es sll hee CAMA. ASitshoul be. (else do gan) KING, Novo nosh ed cing hing a CCAMAE. Oh, iether. KING. No, sot Tel meth nos. He pul sh cnrsains back om ‘he windous. Thy to, ae filed tthe btm ih sn) CAMAE, St is hee KING, No. No. No. Youve dragged ie. lipped something ia my caf: Some hip pile nny cf! Got me sng hs at CAMAE. 1 jus put some whiskey upin there ore you — KING, You pt some hpi pln my calle! Made me, Sh Snow? Sow (dpe the dor gain and 3 the mo sil tere Ti eae theta ump ou f bse) Le ease ant go anys cat ec out Teast get OUT? CAMAE Tel! CALM DOWNY (He neds te poe Psi) KING. Help! HELP! No dl tone. CAMAE. Michael KING. Quit cling me that QUIT CALLING ME THAT! (Cama bangs ard him. He ups verte be.) CAMAE, We ned to calm you dae! You gone ge yea heat stack You might be 39 ur yo go the heat of «6D yeaa iver cant cantt cant go. I can't can't. (He backs himself against CAMA, Michael Shit KING, ow do you know so much about me? Who inthe hell sre you? WHO IN'THE HELL ARE YOU: (Camae blows on ae tnd of hte I ih 9, ing sons sme Lang CAMA, Tow. Angel breath is some hoe breath KING, Youre, An, Angel CAMA, Inthe eh KING. So, where are your wings? (She points to her breasts) CAMAE. Thesell get me anywhere I need to go. KING, Wow. An angel? CAMAE. Yes, 'm hereto take you to che other side, KING. The other side? So Tm noe dead? CAMAE, No. Not yet. Bea.) KING, Wheew! ‘Cause I was about co get mad if heaven looked, lke his. (They look around the room shat been torn apart in their tse. Suddenly very seriou.) Vin not going to hell, am I? CAMAE. Naw. Naw. Naw! Heaven is where we headed. KING. (With wide es) Good. Good. Goo. Do all angels look. «8 good as you? CAMAE. Yes KING, Heaven must be mighty nice then. 1 wonder what the svomen in hell look like? CAMAE, Honey, they finer. Why you thank they in hell? KING. Camae, youre really an angel? (He loks at her incedulons ‘She nods ber bead.) CAMAE. Sorry I called you Michael. Not too many folk prolly know that "bout you. God said that yo’ Christian name kinda calms you, Ralph call you that, too, Calms you down quick fst. I ‘a nice name, Ie aint better chan Camae, though. KING, I changed ie / when my daddy did, CAMAE. When yo’ daddy did. When you was just five. I done read yo' file, But T done know why yall wanna be named af ‘some Martin Luther though. I met ho in the eafeceria today and he was kinda weird. Very. (He slowly circles Camae) KING, Youre really an angel MAE. What ee I gor todo for you wo believe me? Cry flowers? KING, But but — but why did God send you? (Puse) CAMAE, What you mean by that KING. Why He— ‘CAMAE. She! KING. She send you? Youite not what I was expecting. CAMAE. Shir, you wan't what I was expecting, Preacher Kang! KING. Wel, ns not perfect. CAMAE. Thae you ain! KING. Hey, hey, dont judge me, you cussin’,fassn’, deankin’ angel CAMAE, Well, God know what you lke, henht 25 KING. Hoy hey hare i nowt CANE "The thst post efi chee KING. Baty you CAMAE Bice yo me Ii wan thi oF dy? Bring ony The Kan Ta ans i Ba db a te basen fam lian sama Bay Caifanes tothe bates Wt ne won) Pees ok Soar may ie Sone! When heal Wels “ote le my ete and wo gone (Co nh J ‘ot no fs boom eb ft Be KEING"fu'taee her nme “Bec. mye erie My ay gl pew yous CAMAE Het pps poe. Icn lsh on, She go a vari nok A git Sunk shepnchoep day doatite ines oo mach bse she sae KING. My Bunny. my bay gi Benth Le CAMAE” gente ov ther ie) Lak Know you ft, hr Kang KING” ow you know tn CAMAE. Recto tl be, (Se pina te hr oft tnt Bt or ug ed Tho its bet tan a fg eg uh ai pte tng, ie teh toward te door dive the dang drawn othe ble) KING ones fey Cael ave Fl in my gus Fein ny os Faivcen when td ee fy own conggton a my own chal Tee Beet ee eid rugged rte gk tnd shook wih fe My “hunt nd fg halo herp hem orm lepag seo mouth Yous Negro manos ns ple Neer {ul of sown making Sanday mori ne bce ining nen am mow fad Casein sean spe ireland weal thin Ame el oe fll ecb more wd bur, Cama We ee CAMA, Yo nko I war come yo? KING. eh yor T hve med ou Ric ad igh rs my a hor Fen pred or youve pe Been so many ath hes ar ome hehe od Pine jt gine ih Een ong the ech (oft cp ere sand Wh bce dese 26 beaut Almost make a man wanna di CAMAE. You not aid of met KING. ear has become my companion, my love. know the touch of ean even more than I now the touch of my own vie Fes, Camae is my br fiend, Shel the reson U get up in the snoring. Cae Unow im afald, hen Lan sl alive CAMAE. ‘Tomorrow: When ie tine, you gone have wo tke my fan KING. Tomoeron? Bat mm CAMAE. Bur God sy iste. KING. No, isnot my sme. ain eady tl have work odo, (El pont tthe apes back at bis de and be gots don. He tri) “Why America is going co hall — (King vole back on) A county chat ends its boys to bathe ise bity brown bales in the blood of or rds hexded for acronis of comcience — CAMAE. You Bea wbarT id, ou sn gone be able o ish than an KING. — And the consequence? Our young are flown back home in sar-trangled coflins, Unvathable our ands a we stand arhesves gates, wondering why out God will not tus in, And why wont He CAMAE. She KING. She lus in? Cause Americ ging ll Cast down ike Lacfrin he pte burn, baby, burl CAMAE, (Under berth) An chought Iwas the radia KING. A tsunami of rage cling across the bottom of our eas aud Ameria, my sweet America, urtounded by sng water, trating wm owt, Marsa wl be evenhtown: hen tar re Tire ange cans them inate roling wae Bur the chien 1 de Nile wl they wl RISE, my Drv! Can T gt an ftoen SAID can] gen amen? CAMAE. AMEN! KING. (Ponting, spent fom his inspiration) See, cha make a ged sxmongroti EAMAE, Hel Ts in a pow fora fe for tha one KING. So you agree with me? Well, I gost Bish my sermon and Teed wb alone t nish my sen so. you gone have co yom aay. (continu ribbing with po. fas and irony) CAMAE. Preacher Kang KING. Excl one yea go, Istoodin ha pulicin Riverside and ready co die, 7 sce. Well Tt yom tee were ee ea oa, fate a sg oe en a Instead, chey have called me every name but a child of God. Eseg seine re bck i ph wig tg ding) CAMAE, Preacher Kang — KING. ~My county is dhe, CAMAE, — You maki’ my job Rade KING, ~My county who doles out constant misery — CAMA Hate than aes 3. — War abroad, then wt on your see arog Americ — ‘CAMAE, — This hard on me ee KING. (Baking rom bis) Hardon YOU? What abou iit bard nme? On my fami? On Can? On the movements IAS Gop THOUGHT ABOUT THAT? CAMAE, Godan the one you need ro be mad a wile you up there yellin’! God ain't the one you need to be blamin' — — KING. Then who needs vo be blame? CAMAE. ‘ean who eats to be blamed, Preacher Kang. Ks tI ana whois what, Preacher Kang. Evils not ede Guns jue, But good, good KING. "Well cant you stop it Catch whatever coming? CAMAL: Tha it my jb: God al Tg ety ready to KING. Thi we sil go work to do, go more sermons in me tv or lire dato da x) Cae CAMAE, Another dream of yours? eee KING, uc wanna make this one a eli! Te plan ll in 28 the works, Its called the Poor Peoples Campaign! CAMAE, Poor People's Campaign? What that is? It bet’ not be no nother march. You fan yo’ marches KING, Listen to me, CAMAE, You and yo! / marches! KING, Please, Came! Listen! (She sts down on the bel and starts ating popcorn out of her maid’ uniform.) CAMAE. Tin listening. Gone. KING, Weve been organizing chis campaign all year All yea Imagine, Camac. On the Washington Mall, noc thousands, but rnillions — CAMA. Millions of Negroes on the Washington mall / Shi KING. No, no, not just Negroes. White folk, Chinese fll, Indian folk, Mexican folk all banding together to shame this countey. All, kinds of poor folks pulling their mule wagons across the ‘Washington Mall A rainbow of people chanting, "Stop the war on Vieenam! Stare the war on Poverty!” CAMAE. Unh, anh! How "bout, "Make Love! Not Poverty” KING. Hey, I like that one, too! They can call me Commie King all they like, I dose care. Poor people mactes, Camae. They macte! Thats why we had to come here. Not to walk, but to march, Peacefully: Memphis is just a dress rehearsal for the big one [Memphis is just the beginaing. CAMAE. Yo! meail carey icon, KING, But I'm the leader of this movement. The head of the body CAMAE. Well, the body will just have to grow another head, "cause Memphis is the end ofthe road for you. KING, End of the road? Bue .. but ,.. cane you ... Can you ask God? CAMAE. Honey, I cari do you no kinda special / favors! KING, Just ‘til the end of the month? “Til I see this plan on through? Just il April 29¢h CAMAE, And what if She le you? You juse gone keep on saying tone more day, one more month, one more this, one more that KING. No, I won't. CAMAE. Yes, you will! know you, Preacher Kang. KING. Buc Ihave so much work to do — CAMAE, But what about yo’ mens? Cant they see ie chrough? KING. ‘They dont dream the same dreams I do, Camae. They think I'm eray to dream this big. and maybe I ama litle crazy, but 2» how can we fight the war in Vietnam but not the wat against gos in our ets? How ean we ty to puta man onthe oon, tno fed starving children in Misisippié Theses jst so nach T gota do. So much [haves ye accomplished. So much GOTTA FINISH WHAT STARTED! CCAMAE, Ie aint ll abou you! YOU! YOU! Gosh, you men are 20 selfish, They lays chan es ‘bout them, Ther! THEN Fla Well lee me el you something, Preacher Kan Let me tll ou! Like most men yu ant gone beable to iis wha you sed. KING, My hous as been bombed! have been ple wt rocks My-arm evisted behind my bac, My fice shove int round oF gravel. I have been kicked at Spit at. Pummelel. Abused. Looked A with she deepest scorn, Ihave been stbed in my chew Aad T walked ava: Alive! Alive! IFT woulda sneered I woulda disk CAMA, (Under be reac.) Wel, Fin a you sit have no cold tha dy KING. (leaving her) Look a the life Ive Hive. You ell me Tie 0 fivor wit God Afterall shat? Tell me Isnt jumped ver every Fide of this race! CAMAE. Well sometimes you done ceed the hurdle and sometimes. you ante Remember Albany? You done brought fat Bu you a man. You jst a man, baby. Youte not Gd tong sone fol sy you gor mighty close You know sometimes Youve filed. (Bor The wind snk ow of is ale) KING. Like when tat boy that boy go shot, Lary Payne CAMAE, Wal hue wus yo fle Poli led thas boy. Nor sou (Beat. Cama tds sent) KING, “So this motel room wil bacome my tomb But Ihave survived so much CAMAE. “Honey now all about you ri and tbulations. uo! blesings file. Te Bigger than yo" FBI le and hat shan the Bible. now ie might be hard for you to leave this uly and all o plans But you gone have vo past fd man, You ina ela ice abet he fates fa ner We done eve sere: But you "bout to burn out superseas, You pe nee ops ol tha atom (Beat) KiNG Tino hve dropped is erro many snes ove his race Ht Lome, tnt gonna do gun Tell Hen CAMAE, Tell Her? * a KING, Youll Her | promis, Iwo ever dio this baton agin 30 ose Ee em it dr i aT Dan) Up Come ef tS deh eps nh ri (To Se. Augustine.) Un, bunlh, When She gone be back? Well, Cin Ramer ct oa 31 CAMA. No KING. Iwona alk oy spent (Cama BR perv (Camas rbd oe CAAIRE” stn ei obser Her up KING. Let me talk to Her! a KING “Use v9 Hat he phn fom CAMAE, Halon oc gum mim, Peache King! ee Biel ery sh Roe! he sissy at vnc ino rl: Ye ‘hin Wal god "Case ewan ge oun phone over to him. King snatches it, Clears brs ¢f : thao ining nat: Cai ap KING" Uhm Goa? hm aig ni “ng imam yorum em TiS ean bigen) We She eee SAME Hei Na CASAL Nik An PROUD. gp oe KING. God mam, You drt wun ie ough Youd 'No, no, no, Pan me; if char offends | like Bow Ye sea Kinda ike my ganar Wel oll tom You our dey ve ure gi Cana ne eee i ba iO ea he ine he ae ae Ero emi or Cont le en a FG oan Oh Voie ea Terese cing nce ot men 0 tbl tn en a Te We, God ‘ining House havea nee an ee wordy ourword telcos) a Chie bck mal Co hare de os pi is "ane Fn ees Haan in my aad mypeope ens cee eso we them the oil oad (a Lee wha Ul exter one Tw at ow ato (He luk at Gama) Vs dda know se was coma oo ton cnt cena Tang a ple, Dead honcst! No, no, no pun intended ... God, I just eT hi osce my peo here ee OL on inthe olf ey nda na a Vigilant... We've come too fart tun bark now Sel nay 32 ro me ... Who else is betta’ his job? I mean, who will eke in place? (Fle hears Her answer) JESSEY? Paws) I-- just thought Ralph would make a better — No, no, no, 0, [ have not earned vain, On che contrary. Lm but «servant for You, God malam. Yes, Tye been a servant for You all my lif. Acone poinc in time, | might rorta been up for che challenge, but 1 knew this was all par for the ‘course and I did Your wil. {honored YOUR WILL, God, mam, Ler me not die a man who doesnt get to hug his children one last time. Let me nor die a man who never gets 0 rake love 1 his wile ‘one last time. Let me not be a man who dies aftaid and alone, (Long pause) Then why'd You pick me, huh? Hmmmm, no distespect, but ifYou digit know what [could do, what my (Hsing) talents wore then ... You got some nerve. Dragging me here to this moldy motel room in Memphis. To die. HUFI Of all places! Well | am angry. ‘There have been many nights when I have held my tongue when iteame to You. Bur not tonight, NOT TONIGHT. I have contin cously put my feo the line, gave ial up. Gave ial up for You and Your word. You told me, thatd Ta be safe. Safe in Your arms. You pprocected me allthis time all this time! Glued a pair of wings to my back, but now that I've flown too close o the sun, Tm filling ino the ocean of death. God, how dare You take me now. NOW! I beg of You I plead — God? Ma'am? God? (Long heavy silence.) CAMAE. (Whispers from the corner.) What She say? KING. I chink ... Pthink She hung up on me. CAMAE, Hmmmm, Coulda been a dropped call. Pause.) KING. A dropped call? How does one "deop” a call? This angel talk you speak. ‘CAMAE. You act like 'm speakin! in tongues, KING. Well, you speak of things I know nothing about CAMAE. Yes I speak ofthe fucue, KING. The future? CAMAE. Ooo0a000000! YOU DONE GOT ME IN TROU- BLE! God gone tan my hide from brovn to barbecue. KING. How did I ge you in trouble? CAMAE. Look, I cane just call Her for yout You gone make me lose my wings. (She ruby her bret.) KING. Good, you need to lose them! Maybe you'll stop luring men to their deaths! (Pawe.) I cant believe She hung up on me. CAMAE. woulda hung up on you, oo. Yellin’ ike thar KING. God hung up on me. She forsook Her servant. 33 salsa eerie toe ear tN Rtn es) anh: Pary pel Th hwy wold wun ea 00. Ya dig? 7 him with it.) gg ed eipte fiers ke tat | Ons BF You Rea’ up one of Her pillow t0 protect himuelf She mises him this time, Laugh teartth) TNC Preacher Man. eee Neer in ne Pee ig H leben te ree vie a aie aga CaM eth i if bed ates ino gd ie tm the ed He pil brand ec ae i a ee en te: ein ug soa hi le artes ate oc ee, een on le ig ieee ad i Te ee tg 0 are Md dg Ing il el a Mi KING. Angels dont pee. CAMAE. Try me. That’ in the Bible, too, KING. No, isnot! CAMAE. Watch ou, my piss gone burn you! Tsssss! KING. I dont believe you CAMAE, You bec! (He ile er) I'm pecin! STOP! I'm pecin’ (Ue finaly somehow pins Came onta ber back, He is on tap of ber They sop. Gazing into each other’ eyes. Out of breath. A bit sweaty) KING. I never thought death would be so beautiful, CAMAE. ‘Sometimes. Tonight's a good night, [remembered my rouge. (Beat) KING, Camae CAMAE. Yer, Preacher Kang. KING, Hold me. (Bear. Kingé ee well with tears and thie strong grown man disoloes into the child no one ever sa He sider down on top of her. Crying. Crying hie heart out. Sobbing, And Camae holds ‘im And rubs bis back as ife were a child) CAMAE. (Sofi) There. there .leitall out. Give tall © me. [wll ake ie all. there chere give ie all co me. KING. (Hiceupping like children do.) ve been pray would sop. CAMAE. "There... there... / Shhh, KING, That ie would all go away. [never wanted to do this. I just ‘wanted co be a minister in my small church, CAMAE. But when your Maker clls you, you must heed che call, KING, Ijuse wanted to bea minister. That was enough, That was ‘enough CCAMAE. But God had bigger plans for you. KING, Why me? CAMAE. Why not you? KING, ‘Cause I'm ... just a man, L know nov, L know: And its time for me to come on home. Help me. Help me get my things together. (King rises and beads to his suitcase. He begins to pack it) CAMAE. You won't be needing that. Woe be needing that at all, Hleaven got all you need. (King lots around the rooms.) KING. Well... I nced to leave my men some instructions, Notes, CAMAE. They can do it on they ov, KING. But I need eo tell chem what to do when Pm ... gone. CAMAE. They'll now what co do. You've taught them well. (Soft pas) that ie 35 KING, Wl. wal ny wife. mcd all my wie. ( rahe pon andi sng an) oe i ae Corte pickup. Cone, Cote Cor pck up. (Sc cet! nck Silene He nal bans up the phone. Long hea beat) {ate bought he Nowers when {went away. Always withthe mind the ‘hey would list long enough til made ie home: Sometimes they voll Mos times they dds. I could never make amends, so bought her ower chat woul stand in fr thse pas pockes of time just a8 T exe for er. T picked beau Hower called Abvence, And it bloomed ke dandelions weed she coud sever fd her garden of, Last week when Tas home I walked pst thi shop, and Ts the mos pete ower. Rain rel een ‘went into the store and, you know what Lfound outs Cama! The ere el My ees had fooed me Bat I bought thou flowers, and they arrived yesterday morning jst ble lil volun he plane £0 Memphis She came ome, with a wink in her er andes "Why, Martin. You neve give me these old atc tinge smile, “Today i diferent Today = CAMAE. You knew shell nce ower that could lt forever KING. IFonly could ell shom how sony an. only eld have been dere with them. mised birthdays I mised bold, To CAMA, Youd wat youhad od. We ned yo The wd KING. "Many mes ve waned to quitT give up the ghost CAMAE. But you die. You preva SP SBM KING, 1 dont know for what! Tve sacrificed my matsag, my family. My health, for what? eee CCAMAE,' Powerful the man thar get more done dead than lv, KING, i dont wint so bea mage CAMAE. ‘Bu the si fs you wel KING. Tama man. Tam js a man CAMAE,"Tomorow youl bet man made mary No, bees ye KING, Dont call me that. Tm a inne, nota sin, Ym not descr’ ofthe le CAMAE, You think tame KING: ous Gi masta been pred wih how youve ved your fe CAMAE. (Quiet) No... She wut (Cama tern ay) KING, But thought angels woe perbee 36 CAMAE, You perfect? KING. No, ‘CAMAE. Then why should I be? Honey, Ive tabbed. I've lied. Ive cheated. I've fled. I've cursed, But what Inv ashamed of most is ve hated. Hated myself Sacrificed my flesh yo that others might feel whole again. I choughe ie was my duty All rhe I ad to offer this world. Whac else was a poor black woman, the mule of the world, here for? Las night, in the back of alley [breathed my lase breath. A man clasped his hands like a necklace ‘round my thro 1 stared into his big blue eyes, as my breath got ragge! and ray, and {saw the hell cis old world had put him chrough, The time he saw his fther hang a man, The time he saw his mother taped. 1 fle so sonry for him. T saw what the world had done to him, and I stil couldie forgive. [hated him for stealing my breath, When I passed (on to the other side, God — 00000, She is more gorgeous than me: She the color of midnight and Her eyes are brighter than the stars, Hier hair... wel. just you wait dl you see Her hait — God stood there before me. With this look on Fler face. I just knowed just so0oo disappointed in me. I was just actyin’, we Feet. Beggin’ Her not to throw me down. All cha sini’. All thae sgime on my soul, All chat hatred in my heart. But then I looked up and saw chat She was smilin’ down at me. She opened Her mouth, and silence came out. Bur I heard Her loud and clea. “I got a special task for you and if you complete i, all yous sins will be washed away.” I opened my file, And I saw my task was you ‘What could lite old me, give to big old you? I thought you was gone be perfect. Wall, you aint, but then you are, You have the Biggest heart [done ever knownt, You have the strength ¢o love those who could never love you back, If [ha just a small Faction ofthe love you have for chs world, then maybe, just maybe I could bbecome half the ange you are. Long heany beat) KING. Will [dic atthe hands of a white man, 100? (Beat) CAMAE. Yes. Speak by love, Die by hate KING. Where will i be? CAMAE. On the balcony just right there. (They lok zo the room oor) KING. Hon? CAMAE. Surrounded by those who love you. KING. Will you be thereto clean up the mess? CAMAE. Iewould be a honor, Preicher Kang a7 KING, Wil the be oes er me? To ey on the baton CAMAE.”"Mary, many wil cy om, bu thet seer be tnother you ou ates onc inane se KING. rae ae a beaut yous CANE! Ys and uly a eto. KING, i vania ert CAMAE. T dont know if ou cold handle i might beak our hear, KING, My hear aleady weary, Camae wanna seit before, CAMAE. “But T thought you done lady cen the Proms Lind KING, tn my dems but Inna seit ith my je Myon se Tee eal vl cea happy nan coro Tl & wilingly inc your sm, Cama, Iu fuse me se the teams NP oeer cer cat ombln King hot Cmte, Sed ae bu and) CAMAE. Tift you set, bt hen you ald back youl have tocome Tina have vo tke You on home one KING. Wha time shall Te you? CAMAE. 601 ty KING, iit gona hur? CAMAE. Yo won edhe ur The word wl KING. You promise? CAMAE. 1 promise, You rey? (King ade upg back ta) lars ake you wo the mount (Cama val obi nd lem Hed einem Seat in rag ‘ikea image om tat fii dag Ap 1968, beg ‘hong ce fonda a the rns of ec Shot ised sins th const ouside Raom 306 ‘worker wiper ay te bod bat not bere Jone bps his hanson the bleony the baton pase (Mead more image of te American xen conse the wl ih or bn state ieee ey) Marnphir burning DC bun hier barnleg Coficn coring bome Another Kennedy killed The baton pase on Bayard Basin Sremll or Andrew Young Jalan Bond, Bob Marcy Redemption songs Angela Davis ‘sr Star ‘Alo picks Black raised fists Olympics Then on lemma 5 (i image ave pickup in sped and the world comin to lot ty. Ha ime os if King rounded by be images wahing ‘trong the fae that he wil never nba) ‘White children Black children Crayelcolor children ‘Togaber ina eerie Roots The Jeferone Sid Pier Su ths James Brown Tim black and Ym PROUD! Jswe for President Tam somebody! are (Gamae begins o flat away into another world. Another dimension. Elona vag on ro rtsfane concen cone oe 39 Marion Barry Oprah Tracks Biggie AIDS Chat comers Reagan wins again From Crenshaw Beilin walls To MLK Boulevard Apartheid ils Saddam Hussein Robben Islnd sets Mandela fre sama bin Laden Rosine King screams George Bush “Cari weal just get along?” Condi Rice The baton pases on The rowers sigh No peace inthe Middle Eas ‘The world cums gray Ruby Dee September 11th “You shi is uly” ‘One bright morning day Spike se Katina, Katrina Riwinda Bleeds American as apple pie Bill Clinton Drove the Chevy t the eve Bur the Levee was drowned The Superdome Drive bye McDonalds Son! Trin Diabetes Monee Ing Don Ask Dont Tell NBA Run-DMC High paid aves BET The dildren ofthe Nile ise Mv Anuclear ® Mile “Walk This Way? Black picket Fences The baton pases on ‘And Jena 6 ‘And on atid on “American lags “Ti he break of dawn ‘And black presidents! For the Amerian song The baton pase on We shall overcome The baton pase on ‘rhino is the nigh The baton pases on “IFit doesnt fi, you must acquit” The baton pase on James Byrd : (The good: the bad and the ugly of Ameria continue to proceed like Columbine 4 fluid mental icra inte the very elge of nw and perbaps beyond. Ron Brown 1s tke river with no lewe aed te images fled our sense, our Colin Powell ‘minds, and our hears The sound ae the fry ofall rst fe Clarence Thomas rete pea stl BOOM! CRICKLEYCRICKLE-CRACKT A flash of Tupac Tighiningiltaminae the stage, Aned nen King stands n be dep 40 a dark blue of the blacknes, walking amongst a pulpit placed in the stars. He is looking over our ads. Past ws, throvgh us, lating above sin the silence.) KING. What is this vision I see before me? Could this be my Wildest dream? Thee ic is, There ... It... Is .. A land where hhunger is no more. A land where war is no more. A land where richness is no mote, poverty is no more, color is... no move Destruction ... is no more. Only love. Radical, fierce love, The Promised Land here on Earth, I accept. Iwill never walk through, thar blesed garden over yonder... ehat lush land just on the far side ofthe moon. It .. is. so... (King mouth cannot articulate ‘is dream, for ance hei: speeches. His ees well with tear) Wel nobody said it was gonna be easy. Nobody sid it would happen in an instant. Everybody suid we'd never get there. But then again ‘nobody thought weld make it this fat Can I get an Amen? I said «an f gee an Amen! You have wandered the sere, The flaming sands burning your fect. But you are standing at the edge of Canaan on a mountaincop made of the dreams of men and wemen who have paid che ultimate price with theit lives. Children of the Nile, you must rs, as you can no longer walk weary through this world with willowed backs, Your time is now, I tell ou NOW! The baton may have been dropped. But anyone can pick ie back up. don't know where in the race we are, bue pick up that baton aad ss, pass, pas it along. This baton is no longer the burden my mage can bear. For you are the climbers, the new cartier of the ‘ross. beg you, implore you, dont give in and toss it ofl On this hhere mountaintop there is beauty co behold, the Promised Land ‘your Promised Land in black, red, white, blue brown and gold ‘Canaan is calling! She is calling for you to come! ‘The Pronsived {and is so close, and yet so far aay, so close and yet so far away so lose and yet so — (ih a small pinpoint of ight Camacs hand comer from behind King sealing on his rembling shoulder) CAMAE, Time, Blackout) End of Play 2 PROPERTY Papers Tray with cup of coffee Newspaper Wallet with money tree PFS Be mt in PS aes cs ighter 4B

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