The Saint-Domingue Plantation; or, The Insurrection: A Drama in Five Acts

Act II

ACT II A space in front of the plantation house, unseen beyond the footlights. In the background, distant mountains, and up left, a low hill. Stage right, the entrance to the shed where the cane is pressed. Down right, a path leading offstage. Stage left, several low slave huts, set at an angle. Down left, a path leading to the house. Up left, a path leading off. Up center, at the foot of the hill, a tall stake in the ground. Tropical trees here and there. At rise, male and female blacks are bustling about. An old black man has just been freed from the stake and is being carried off by his companions . Hélène, a young black woman, is still bound to the stake. Morin and Galaor, the black slave-guard, are looking on. morin, to the groaning black, as he is taken away, up left. That should teach you a lesson, insolent wretch! (To hélène.) And you, my lazy beauty!... Thinks she’s the mistress, does she! (Mimicking.) “I won’t work! I won’t work!” hélène, proudly. And I didn’t! morin. Well, we’ll see! hélène. You couldn’t make me... morin. You’ll pay for it! 36 THE SAINT-DOMINGUE PLANTATION hélène, continuing. And you won’t... (Sneering at him.) You won’t! morin. No faces, thank you! (He rips off her kerchief.) Now, show us your pretty shoulders! (Tearing off her tattered blouse and flinging it to the ground, exposing her bosom. To galaor, who is holding a whip.) Are you tired, Galaor? galaor. Not at all... morin. Good. Then begin... As galaor readies the whip, léon appears, down left. léon, shouting. Morin! morin. Ah, monsieur! Come watch this lovely young— léon, running over, interrupting, to galaor. Don’t you dare! (To morin.) You hear me? (Brandishing his riding crop, to galaor.) If you so much as touch her... morin. But... léon. Thank God I’m not too late! He frees hélène from the stake. morin. But monsieur... léon, to hélène, picking up the blouse and kerchief and handing them to her. Cover yourself, my dear. morin. What are you... (Correcting himself.) What is monsieur doing ? Did his father give him permission? Monsieur knows I’m the only one who— léon, sharply. Quiet! I do as I please! ACT II 37 morin. Begging monsieur’s pardon, but... I and I alone have the authority... léon. Quiet, I said! morin. But... This young woman is guilty of insubordination, monsieur . And she must be punished. léon. Guilty? This child? And a punishment like this?... It’s unspeakable , my friend! You dare to treat these creatures so? These human beings? Like you and me? morin, shocked. Holy mother of God! What are you... What is monsieur saying? Please... (Softly.) Not in front of the blacks!... We’ll stop... (To galaor.) Put down the whip, Galaor. (To léon.) There... Only, for God’s sake, monsieur should mind his tongue when they’re listening. léon, calming down. Yes... Perhaps I went too far. But I’m sure you understand. morin, to hélène. There, there, my child. We only wanted to frighten you. (Raising his cane to the others, who have been watching and listening with interest.) Enough! Back to work, all of you! Cringing, they return to their various labors. Some go in and out of the pressing-shack with sheaves of cane or buckets of molasses. Down right, vénus, clotilde, and hermione1 — the last with an infant in a sling around her neck—are seated on the ground, weaving baskets. 1. Slaves were stripped of their African identities and given Europeanized names, which were often drawn from classical literature or mythology. Rémusat calls attention to this naming practice by providing the African names of the characters Timur and Hélène: Touko and Badia. 38 THE SAINT-DOMINGUE PLANTATION vénus, as hélène approaches, right. You can thank your lucky stars, Hélène! If not for the young master... morin stands about overseeing the work as léon remains center, by the stake, musing. télémaque down right, by the women. Saved? By that one?... There’s always a first time! hermione. It’s not hard to guess why, Télémaque! morin, to...