CHAPTER 1
ACT I
Lights up: On the `Golden Fleece' Tavern in Philadelphia. The year is 1846. Over the entrance door is a painting of the `all seeing eye' in a triangle. There are a few chairs on some of the tables. The Barmaid is black and very pretty. She seems to be in her late twenties, maybe early thirties, but with black women who can really tell. Above the bar on the wall is the yellow fur of a Ram, the head is attached to the fur. A sign above the Ram fur says `The Golden Fleece'. Sarah is sitting at a table counting the days' receipts. Sarah, a white lady, is an attractive raven haired beauty. She has a sensual quality and a strong sense of self. She is not a push over. As Sarah counts her money there is an open wooden box in front of her. She also has ink and pen and makes notations in her ledger. A Patron finishes his drink, plops some coins on the bar and exits the Tavern. He tips his hat to Sarah. Mary brings the coins to Sarah.
SARAH
Good night. (To Patron leaving.) Mary, where is my sewing?
BARMAID
Behind the bar ... next to your journals. You want them?
SARAH
Yes.
Mary goes behind the bar as Sarah puts her ledger away. Mary finds Sarah's sewing kit. She crosses to Sarah, as Sarah puts the coins and paper money into the wooden box.
SARAH
Today was a good day.
Sarah opens the sewing kit and places some quilting squares on the top of her table. The Barmaid wipes down another table. She is swiping a table with a damp cloth and taking the pewter mugs and plates and stacking them on the bar.
SARAH
Mary come here for a second. What do you think?
The Barmaid stops what she is doing at looks at the sewing.
BARMAID
Miss Sarah, I would place them like this?
The Barmaid rearranges the quilting squares on the table top.
SARAH
Ahhh, yes. Think I might finish it by the week end.
BARMAID
Miss Sarah, I got more quilting squares for you.
Barmaid get some extra quilting squares from behind the bar, As Sarah puts on her coat, Sarah, replaces her quilting squares back into her sewing kit.
SARAH
Thank you Mary. You lock up everything, Okay?
BARMAID
Yes, Miss Sarah.
Sarah places her money box into her sewing basket and covers it, and crosses to the door.
SARAH
You're doing fine work Mary.
BARMAID
Thank you Miss Sarah.
Sarah exits. The Barmaid locks the door. She crosses to a table and stacks all the plates together then crosses to the bar with the plates. There is a coded knock at the door. The Barmaid stops and listens. The code is repeated: one knock, then a pause, then three quick knocks. She goes to the door and opens it slightly, then all the way. A black man enters. He is dressed in elegant clothes. It is obvious that he has money. He carries leather saddle bags draped across his shoulder. He is in his 40's and educated. This is Prince.
PRINCE
Guess I'm early.
BARMAID
First one.
PRINCE
Your mistress?
BARMAID
On her way home. She gonna be busy sewing.
PRINCE
That's good
BARMAID
Drink?
PRINCE
Later.
BARMAID
How many coming?
PRINCE
Three others.
BARMAID
Hungry? I have apples and cheese.
PRINCE
Maybe you could fix something for the others.
Prince sits at a table and pulls out a small book from his leather bag.
BARMAID
You can read?
PRINCE
Yes.
BARMAID
What chu reading?
PRINCE
A book of poems by a man named Edgar Allan Poe.
BARMAID
What's it called?
PRINCE
The Raven and Other Poems.
BARMAID
You buy that book here?
PRINCE
No, Boston ... just before I left.
BARMAID
I know my alphabet.
PRINCE
Really?
BARMAID
Want to hear it?
PRINCE
Of course.
BARMAID
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I, (pause) and J, and K, and L ...
PRINCE
Keep going you're almost there.
BARMAID
O, M, P, R-rah, S, and T,U,V,W ... XYZ.
PRINCE
Very good.
BARMAID
Thanks.
PRINCE
You left out some letters.
BARMAID
Which ones?
PRINCE
The letter N and the letter Q.
BARMAID
You'd think I wouldn't forget the letter N.
PRINCE
Still that was very good. Do you recognize words?
There is a knock at the door. The same coded knock as before. Both Prince and the Barmaid stop talking and listen. The knock is done a second time: one knock, then a pause then three quick knocks. She goes to the door and opens it, a black man enters; he is elderly. His clothes are worn but you can tell they were once very fine and expensive, he wears a hat. This is Grandpa. He carries a loaf of French bread.
GRANDPA
Cold out tonight.
BARMAID
Not fit for man nor beast.
GRANDPA
Am I the first?
PRINCE
No, I'm here.
GRANDPA
Damn, I like being first. Young lady, a hot buttered rum would ease the chill on these weary bones.
BARMAID
Coming right now.
Grandpa crosses to Prince. They shake hands. He tears off a piece of bread.
GRANDPA
Taste this. Nice leather bag, beautiful work. Where did you get it?
PRINCE
I made it. I have a leather shop in Boston. (He tastes the bread.) Still warm. It's good.
GRANDPA
I baked it myself. That is how the French cook their bread. I was up last night. All night ... thinking about our meeting. Only thing I could do was cook ... to take my mind off tonight. You like duck stew?
PRINCE
Yes.
GRANDPA
After the meeting ... come to where I'm staying I will feed ya duck stew. Cooked the French way. How many of us are there?
PRINCE
Four.
GRANDPA
Is that enough?
PRINCE
That depends on what we decide to do.
GRANPA
Four. Not bad. Not bad. It's a start.
PRINCE
Let us see the character of each man and that will help us decide a course of action.
GRANDPA
That's why you're the leader Prince. That's why you're the boss.
BARMAID
Want some free cheese with that rum?
GRANDPA
Sounds good, Sweet lady ... sounds very good.
Grandpa crosses to the bar.
GRANDPA
Will your mistress miss it?
BARMAID
I know how to cover my tracks.
GRANDPA
Got an apple to go with that cheese?
BARMAID
Green or red?
GRANDPA
Red. Want me to peel it for ya?
BARMAID
No, I know what I'm doing.
PRINCE
Young girl, let Grandpa prepare that apple. He's a cook.
BARMAID
Really?
GRANDPA
I can peel this apple and never break the skin. One continuous spiral from the stem to the bumpy bottom. Takes a delicate touch with a firm grip.
BARMAID
Where you learn that?
Grandpa picks up the red apple and begins to peel it with a paring knife. He carefully and slowly peels the apple as he talks.
GRANDPA
I used to cook for the President.
BARMAID
Polk?
GRANDPA
No. The one that really counted. The first one. That bastard that set all this mess in motion.
BARMAID
That was 70 years ago. How old are you?
GRANDPA
Good black don't crack.
BARMAID
I can see that. How old are you?
GRANDPA
Old enough to know better and smart enough not to get...
