The Green Pastures (1929)/Part 1/Scene 2
Scene II
In the darkness many voices are heard singing “Rise, Shine, Give God The Glory.” They sing it gayly and rapidly. The lights go up as the second verse ends. The chorus is being sung diminuendo by a mixed company of angels. That is they are angels in that they wear brightly colored robes and have wings protruding from their backs. Otherwise they look and act like a company of happy negroes at a fish fry. The
scene itself is a pre-Creation Heaven with compromises. In the distance is an unbroken stretch of blue sky. Companionable varicolored clouds billow down to the floor of the stage and roll overhead to the branches of a live oak tree which 1s up left. The tree is leafy and dripping with Spanish moss, and with the clouds makes a frame for the scene. In the cool shade of the tree are the usual appurtenances of a fish fry; a large kettle of hot fat set on two small parallel logs, with a fire going underneath, and a large rustic table formed by driving four stakes into the ground and placing planks on top of the small connecting boards. On the table are piles of biscuits and corn bread and the cooked fish in dish pans. There are one or two fairly large cedar or crock “churns” containing boiled custard, which looks like milk. There is a gourd dipper beside the churns and several glasses and cups of various sizes and shapes from which the custard is drunk.
The principal singers are marching two by two in a small area at the x. of the stage. Two Mammy Angels are attending to the frying beside the kettle. Behind the table a Man Angel is skinning fish and passing them to the cooks. Another is ladling out the custard. A Mammy Angel is putting fish on bread for a brood of cherubs, and during the first scene they seat themselves on a grassy bank upstage. Another Mammy Angel is clapping her hands disapprovingly and beckoning a laughing Boy Cherub down from a cloud a little out of her reach. Another Mammy Angel is solicitously slapping the back of a girl cherub who has a large fish sanduich in her hand and a bone in her throat. There is much movement about the table, and during the first few minutes several individuals go up to the table to help themselves to the food and drink. Many of the women angels wear hats and a few of the men are smoking cigars. A large boxful is on the table. There is much laughter and chatter as the music softens, but continues, during the early part of the action. The following short scenes are played almost simultaneously.
First Cook [At Table]
[Calling off.] Hurry up, Cajey. Dis yere fat’s cryin’ fo’ mo’ feesh.
A Voice
[Off stage.] We comin’, fas’ we kin. Dey got to be ketched, ain’t dey? We cain’t say. “C’m’on little fish. C’m’on an’ git fried,” kin we?
Second Cook [At Table]
De trouble is de mens is all worm fishin’.
First Man Angel [At Table]
Whut dif’runce do it make? Yo’ all de time got to make out like somebody’s doin’ somethin’ de wrong way.
Second Cook [Near Table]
I s’pose you got de per’fec’ way fo’ makin’ bait.
First Man Angel
I ain’t sayin’ dat. I is sayin’ whut’s wrong wid worm fishin’.
Second Cook
Whut’s wrong wid worm fishin’? Ever’thing, dat’s all. Dey’s only one good way fo’ catfishin’, an’ dat’s minny fishin’. Anybody know dat.
First Man Angel
Well, it jest so happen dat minny fishin’ is de doggondest fool way of fishin’ dey is. You kin try minny fishin’ to de cows come home an’ all you catch’ll be de backache. De trouble wid you, sister, is you jest got minny fishin’ on de brain.
Second Cook
Go right on, loud mouf. You tell me de news. My, my! You jest de wisest person in de worl’. First you, den de Lawd God.
First Man Angel
[To the custard ladler.] You cain’t tell dem nothin’. [Walks away to the custard churn.] Does you try to ’splain some simple fac’ dey git man-deaf.
First Mammy Angel
[To Cherub on the cloud.] Now, you heerd me. [The Cherub assumes several mocking poses, as she speaks.] You fly down yere. You wanter be put down in de sin book? [She goes to the table, gets a drink for herself and points out the cherub to one of the men behind the table.] Dat baby must got imp blood in him he so vexin’. [She returns to her position under the cloud.] You want me to fly up dere an’ slap you down? Now, I tol’ you. [The Cherub starts to come down.]
Stout Angel
[To the Cherub with a bone in her throat.] I tol’ you you was too little fo’ cat fish. What you wanter git a bone in yo’ froat fo’? [She slaps the Cherub’s back.]
Slender Angel
[Leisurely eating a sandwich as she watches the back-slapping.] What de trouble wid Leonetta?
Stout Angel
She got a catfish bone down her froat. [To the Cherub.] Doggone, I tol’ you to eat grinnel instead.
Slender Angel
Ef’n she do git all dat et, she gonter have de belly-ache.
Stout Angel
Ain’t I tol’ her dat? [To Cherub.] Come on now; let go dat bone. [She slaps Cherub’s back again. The bone is dislodged and the Cherub grins her relief.] Dat’s good.
Slender Angel
[Comfortingly] Now she all right.
Stout Angel
Go on an’ play wid yo’ cousins. [The Cherub joins the Cherubs sitting on the embankment. The concurrency of scenes ends here.] I ain’t see you lately, Lily. How you been?
Slender Angel
Me, I’m fine. I been visitin’ my mammy. She waitin’ on de welcome table over by de throne of grace.
Stout Angel
She always was pretty holy.
Slender Angel
Yes, ma’am. She like it dere. I guess de Lawd’s took quite a fancy to her.
Stout Angel
Well, dat’s natural. I declare yo’ mammy one of de finest lady angels I know.
Slender Angel
She claim you de best one she know.
Stout Angel
Well, when you come right down to it, I suppose we is all pretty near perfec’.
Slender Angel
Yes, ma’am. Why is dat, Mis’ Jenny?
Stout Angel
I s’pose it’s caize de Lawd he don’ ’low us ’sociatin’ wid de devil any mo’ so dat dey cain’ be no mo’ sinnin’.
Slender Angel
Po’ ol’ Satan. Whutevah become of him?
Stout Angel
De Lawd put him some place I s’pose.
Slender Angel
But dey ain’t any place but Heaven, is dey?
Stout Angel
De Lawd could make a place, couldn’t he?
Slender Angel
Dat’s de truth. Dey’s one thing confuses me though.
Stout Angel
What’s dat?
Slender Angel
I do a great deal of travelin’ an’ I ain’t never come across any place but Heaven anywhere. So if de Lawd kick Satan out of Heaven jest whereat did he go? Dat’s my question.
Stout Angel
You bettah let de Lawd keep his own secrets, Lily. De way things is goin’ now dey ain’t been no sinnin’ since dey give dat scamp a kick in de pants. Nowadays Heaven’s free of sin an’ if a lady wants a little constitutional she kin fly ’til she wing-weary widout gittin’ insulted.
Slender Angel
I was jest a baby when Satan lef’. I don’t even ’member what he look like.
Stout Angel
He was jest right fo’ a devil. [An Archangel enters. He is older than the others and wears a white beard. His clothing is much darker than that of the others and his wings a trifle more imposing.] Good mo’nin’, Archangel.
[Others say good morning.]
Archangel
Good mo’nin’, folks. I wonder kin I interrup’ de fish fry an’ give out de Sunday school cyards? [Cries of “Suttingly!” “Mah goodness, yes”—etc. The marching Choir stops.] You kin keep singin’ if you want to. Why don’ you sing “When de Saints Come Marchin’ In?” Seem to me I ain’ heard dat lately. [The Choir begins “When the Saints Come Marching In,” rather softly, but does not resume marching. The Archangel looks off left.] All right, bring ’em yere. [A prim looking Woman Teacher-Angel enters, shepherding ten Boy and Girl Cherubs. TheTeacher carries ten beribboned diplomas, which she gives to the Archangel. The cherubs are dressed in stiffly starched white suits and dresses, the little girls having enormous ribbons at the backs of their dresses and smaller ones in their hair and on the tips of their wings. They line up in front of the archangel and receive the attention of the rest of the company. The Choir sings through the ceremony.] Now den cherubs, why is you yere?
Children
Because we so good.
Archangel
Dat’s right. Now who de big boss?
Children
Our dear Lawd.
Archangel
Dat’s right. When you all grow up what you gonter be?
Children
Holy angels at de throne of grace.
Archangel
Dat’s right. Now, you passed yo’ ’xaminations and it gives me great pleasure to hand out de cyards for de whole class. Gineeva Chaproe. [The First Girl Cherub goes to him and gets her diploma. The Choir sings loudly and resumes marching, as the Archangel calls out another name—and presents diplomas.] Corey Moulter. [Second Girl Cherub gets her diploma.] Nootzie Winebush. [Third Girl Cherub.] Harriet Prancy. [Fourth Girl Cherub.] I guess you is Brozain Stew’t. [He gives the Fifth Girl Cherub the paper. Each of the presentations has been accompanied by hand-clapping from the bystanders.] Now you boys know yo’ own names. Suppose you come yere and help me git dese ’sorted right?
[Boy Cherubs gather about him and receive their diplomas. The little Girls have scattered about the stage, joining groups of the adult angels. The angel Gabriel enters. He is bigger and more elaborately winged than even the Archangel, but he is also much younger and beardless. His costume is less conventional than that of the other men, resembling more the Gabriel of the Doré drawings. His appearance causes a flutter among the others. They stop their chattering with the children. The Choir stops as three or four audible whispers of “Gabriel!” are heard. In a moment the heavenly company is all attention.]
Gabriel
[Lifting his hand.] Gangway! Gangway for de Lawd God Jehovah!
[There is a reverent hush and God enters. He is the tallest and biggest of them all. He wears a white shirt with a white bow tie, a long Prince Albert coat of black alpaca, black trousers and congress gaiters. He looks at the assemblage. There is a pause. He speaks in a rich, bass voice.]
God
Is you been baptized?
Others
[Chanting.] Certainly, Lawd.
God
Is you been baptized?
Others
Certainly, Lawd.
God
[With the beginning of musical notation.] Is you been baptized?
Others
[Now half-singing.] Certainly, Lawd. Certainly, certainly, certainly, Lawd.
[They sing the last two verses with equivalent part division.]
[As the last response ends all heads are bowed. God looks at them for a moment; then lifts His hand.]
God
Let de fish fry proceed.
[Everyone rises. The Angels relax and resume their inaudible conversations. The activity behind the table and about the cauldron is resumed. Some of the choir members cross to the table and get sandwiches and cups of the boiled custard. Three or four of the children in the Sunday School class and the little girl who had the bone in her throat affectionately group themselves about God as he speaks with the Archangel. He pats their heads, they hang to his coat-tails, etc.]
Archangel
Good mo’nin’, Lawd.
God
Good mo’nin’, Deacon. You lookin’ pretty spry.
Archangel
I cain’ complain. We just been givin’ our cyards to de chillun.
God
Dat’s good.
[A small Cherub, his feet braced against one of God’s shoes is using God’s coat tail as a trapeze. One of the Cooks offers a fish sandwich which God politely declines.]
First Mammy Angel
Now, you leave go de Lawd’s coat, Herman. You heah me?
God
Dat’s all right, sister. He jest playin’.
First Mammy Angel
He playin’ too rough.
[God picks up the cherub and spanks him good-naturedly. The Cherub squeals with delight and runs to his mother. Gabriel advances to God with a glass of the custard.]
Gabriel
Little b’iled custud, Lawd?
God
Thank you very kindly. Dis looks nice.
Custard Maker
[Offering a box.] Ten cent seegar, Lawd?
God
[Taking it.] Thank you, thank you. How de fish fry goin’? [Ad lib. cries of “O. K. Lawd,” “Fine an’ dandy, Lawd,” “De best one yit, Lawd,” etc. To the choir.] How you shouters gittin’ on?
Choir Leader
We been marchin’ and singin’ de whole mo’nin’.
God
I heerd you. You gittin’ better all de time. You gittin’ as good as de one at de throne. Why don’ you give us one dem ol’ time jump-ups?
Choir Leader
Anythin’ you say, Lawd. [To the others.] “So High!”
[The Choir begins to sing “So High You Can't Get Over It.” They sing softly, but do not march. An Angel offers his cigar to God from which He can light His own.]
God
No, thanks. I’m gonter save dis a bit.
[He puts the cigar in his pocket and listens to the singers a moment. Then he sips his custard. After the second sip, a look of displeasure comes on his face.]
Gabriel
What’s de matter, Lawd?
God
[Sipping again.] I ain’t jest sure, yit. Dey’s something ’bout dis custahd. [Takes another sip.]
Custard Maker
Ain’t it all right, Lawd?
God
It don’t seem seasoned jest right. You make it?
Custard Maker
Yes, Lawd. I put everythin’ in it like I allus do. It’s supposed to be perfec’.
God
Yeah. I kin taste de eggs and de cream and de sugar. [Suddenly.] I know what it is. It needs jest a little bit mo’ firmament.
Custard Maker
Dey’s firmament in it, Lawd.
God
Maybe, but it ain’ enough.
Custard Maker
It’s all we had, Lawd. Dey ain’t a drap in de jug.
God
Dat’s all right. I’ll jest r’ar back an’ pass a miracle. [Choir stops singing.] Let it be some firmament! An’ when I say let it be some firmament, I don’t want jest a little bitty dab o’ firmament caize I’m sick an’ tired of runnin’ out of it when we need it. Let it be a whole mess of firmament! [The stage has become misty until God and the heavenly company are obscured. As he finishes the speech there is a burst of thunder. As the stage grows darker.] Dat’s de way I like it.
[Murmurs from the others; “Dat’s a lot of firmament.” “My, dat is firmament!” “Look to me like he’s created rain,” etc.]
First Mammy Angel
[When the stage is dark.] Now, look Lawd, dat’s too much firmament. De Cherubs is gettin’ all wet.
Second Mammy Angel
Look at my Carlotta, Lawd. She’s soaked to de skin. Dat’s plenty too much firmament.
God
Well, ’co’se we don’t want de chillun to ketch cold. Can’t you dreen it off?
Gabriel
Dey’s no place to dreen it, Lawd.
First Mammy Angel
Why don’t we jest take de babies home, Lawd?
God
No, I don’ wanta bust up de fish fry. You angels keep quiet an I’ll pass another miracle. Dat’s always de trouble wid miracles. When you pass one you always gotta r’ar back an’ pass another. [There is a hush.] Let dere be a place to dreen off dis firmament. Let dere be mountains and valleys an’ let dere be oceans an’ lakes. An’ let dere be rivers and bayous to dreen it off in, too. As a matter of fac’ let dere be de earth. An’ when dat’s done let dere be de sun, an’ let it come out and dry my Cherubs’ wings.
[The lights go up until the stage is bathed in sunlight. On the embankment upstage there is now a waist-high wrought iron railing such as one sees on the galleries of houses in the French quarter of New Orleans. The Cherubs are being examined by their parents and there is an ad lib. murmur of, “You all right, honey?” “You feel better now, Albert?” “Now you all dry, Vangy?” until the Archangel, who has been gazing in awe at the railing, drowns them out.]
Archangel
Look yere!
[There is a rush to the embankment accompanied by exclamations, “My goodness!” “What's dis?” “I declah!” etc. Gabriel towers above the group on the middle of the embankment. God is wrapped in thought, facing the audience. The Choir resumes singing “So High You Can’t Get Over It” softly. The babbling at the balustrade dies away as the people lean over the railing. Gabriel turns and faces God indicating the earth below the railing with his left hand.]
Gabriel
Do you see it, Lawd?
God
[Quietly, without turning his head upstage.] Yes, Gabriel.
Gabriel
Looks mighty nice, Lawd.
God
Yes.
[Gabriel turns and looks over the railing.]
Gabriel
[Gazing down.] Yes, suh. Dat’d make mighty nice farming country. Jest look at dat South forty over dere. You ain’t going to let dat go to waste is you, Lawd? Dat would be a pity an’ a shame.
God
[Not turning.] It’s a good earth. [God turns, room is made for him beside Gabriel on the embankment.] Yes. I ought to have somebody to enjoy it. [He turns, facing the audience. The others, save for the choir who are lined up in two rows of six on an angle up right, continue to look over the embankment.] Gabriel! [God steps down from the embankment two paces.]
Gabriel
[Joining him.] Yes, Lawd.
God
Gabriel, I’m goin’ down dere.
Gabriel
Yes, Lawd.
God
I want you to be my working boss yere while I’m gone.
Gabriel
Yes, Lawd.
God
You know dat matter of dem two stars?
Gabriel
Yes, Lawd.
God
Git dat fixed up! You know dat sparrow dat fell a little while ago? ’Tend to dat, too.
Gabriel
Yes, Lawd.
God
I guess dat’s about all. I’ll be back Saddy. [To the Choir.] Quiet, angels. [The Choir stops singing. Those on the embankment circle down stage. God goes to embankment. Turns and faces the company.] I’m gonter pass one more miracle. You all gonter help me an’ not make a soun’ caize it’s one of de most impo’tant miracles of all. [Nobody moves. God turns, facing the sky and raises his arms above his head.] Let there be man.
[There is growing roll of thunder as stage grows dark. The Choir bursts into “Hallelujah,” and continues until the lights go up on the next scene.]