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| Elizabeth Keckley |
SEE THE PREVIOUS SCENES:
The Silhouette of Elizabeth Keckley SCENES 1-2
Scene 3
MRS. KECKLEY
Taking a prospective glance at liberty, I consented to marry. The wedding
was a great event in the family. The ceremony took place in the parlor, in the
presence of the family and a number of guests. The day was a happy one, but it
faded all too soon. Mr. Keckley--let me speak kindly of his faults--proved
dissipated, and a burden instead of a help-mate. More than all, I learned that
he was a slave instead of a free man, as he represented himself to be. With the
simple explanation
that I lived with him eight years, let charity draw around him the
mantle of silence.
(Beat.)
I went to work in earnest to purchase my freedom, but the years
passed, and I was still a slave. At last I formed a resolution to go to New
York, state my case, and appeal to the benevolence of the people.
(MR. GARLAND
enters from SL, followed by LIZZIE.)
The plan seemed feasible, and I made preparations to carry it out.
MR. GARLAND
Yes,
yes, Lizzie, the scheme is a fair one, and you shall have my name. But I shall bid you good-bye when you start.
LIZZIE
Good-bye
for a short time.
MR. GARLAND
No,
good-bye for all time.
LIZZIE
What
do you mean, Mr. Garland? Sure you don't
think that I won't come back?
MR. GARLAND
No.
LIZZIE
No? What then?
MR. GARLAND
Simply
this: you mean to come back, that is,
you mean so now, but you never will.
When you reach New York the abolitionists will tell you what savages we
are, and they will prevail on you to stay there. You will abandon us and we will shall never
see you again.
LIZZIE
But,
I assure you, Mr. Garland, you are mistaken.
I not only mean to come back
but I will come back and pay every
cent of the twelve hundred dollars for myself and my boy.
MR. GARLAND
I'm
not mistaken. Time will show. When you start for the North I will bid you
good-bye.
(MR. GARLAND exists SL. LIZZIE stares after her as MRS. KECKLEY
begins to speak. LIZZIE covers her
mouth, tears in her eyes.)
MRS. KECKLEY
The heart grew heavy. Every ray of sunshine was eclipsed. With
humbled pride, weary step, and tearful face, I left the house. I walked along
the street mechanically.
(LIZZIE turns
toward the audience, her steps slow and contemplative.)
My trunk was packed, my luncheon was prepared by mother, the cars
were ready to bear me where I would not hear the clank of chains, where I would
breathe the free, invigorating breezes of the glorious North. I had dreamed
such a happy dream, in imagination had drunk of the water, the pure, sweet
crystal water of life, but now--now--the flowers had withered before my eyes;
darkness had settled down upon me like a pall, and I was left alone with cruel
mocking shadows.
(Mrs. LE
BOURGOIS enters from SR, her face cheerfully excited.)
MRS. LE BOURGOIS
Lizzie,
I hear that you are going to New York to beg money to buy your freedom! I have been thinking over the matter, and
told Ma-ma it should be a shame to allow you to go beg for what we should give you gladly. You have many friends here in St. Louis. I'm going to raise the money you need. I have two hundred dollars stashed away and
will make the money a present to you.
Don't go to New York until I can see what I can do.
(She exits
excitedly, leaving a stunned Lizzie.)
MRS. KECKLEY
Like a ray of sunshine she came, and like a ray of sunshine she
went away. Mrs. Le Bourgois, God bless her dear good heart, was more than
successful.
(The following montage features the
silhouettes of various donors, the individual screens lighting up as each one
of them speaks then darkening to allow the next speaker to move into
place.)
LADY A
Lizzie,
I send you this note to sign for the sum of $75 and when I give you the whole
amount you will then sign the other note for $100.
GENT A
In
the paper you will find $25; see it is all right before the girl leaves.
LADY B
Lizzie,
please accept this give of $125 from myself and my sister.
GENT B
My
wife is fond of your dresses and would see you have the $80 included in this
letter.
LADY A
Lizzie,
I hope this note finds you well. I am
pleased to offer you $50 for your liberty.
LADY B
Dear
Lizzie, thank you so much for the shawl, it is perfect. With the payment I have added an extra
$30. Please accept it with my best
wishes.
GENT A
I have received of Lizzy Keckley $950, which I
have deposited with Darby & Barksdale for her. I have and shall make use of said money for
Lizzy's benefit, and hereby guarantee to her one per cent. per month--as much more
as can be made she shall have.
MRS. KECKLEY
The twelve hundred dollars were raised, and at last my son and
myself were free.
(MRS. GARLAND enters from SR and crosses
to down stage left - mirroring MRS. KECKLEY as a narrator, and reads a
document.)
MRS. GARLAND
Know all men that I, Anne P. Garland, of the County
and City of St. Louis, State of
Missouri, for and in consideration of the sum of $1200, to me in hand paid this
day in cash, hereby emancipate my negro woman Lizzie, and her son George; the
said Lizzie is known in St. Louis as the wife of James, who is called James
Keckley; is of light complexion, about 37 years of age, by trade a dress-maker,
and called by those who know her Garland's Lizzie. The said boy, George, is the
only child of Lizzie, is about 16 years of age, and is almost white, and called
by those who know him Garland's George. Witness my hand and seal, this 13th day
of November, 1855. ANNE P. GARLAND, Witness: JOHN WICKHAM, WILLIS L. WILLIAMS.
(The light on
MRS. GARLAND fades and she exits quietly SL.)
MRS. KECKLEY
Free. Free! what a glorious ring to the word.
(Beat.)
Free! the bitter heart-struggle was over. Free! the soul could go
out to heaven and to God with no chains to clog its flight or pull it down.
Free! the earth wore a brighter look, and the very stars seemed to sing with
joy. Yes, free! free by the laws of
man and the smile of God--and Heaven bless them who made me so!
(The CS screen
lights up on the silhouette of ROBERT and MARY.)
ROBERT
Mother,
did you know of all this?
MARY
What? Oh. Of
course.
ROBERT
This
says that she was a slave for thirty-seven years.
(Flipping the
book over.)
The
title only says thirty. Perhaps this isn't
the only thing that was exaggerated.
MARY
Oh
much is exaggerated! She crossed the line of genteel, respectable
society standards. She ought not to have written such things for the
public to see! If only she had told the
story of her life... Why did she have to bring me into it?
ROBERT
Mother-
MARY
No! I will hear no more on this matter,
Robert. I don't want to hear one more
word of that colored historian and her memoir!
(The screen goes
dark.)
 |
| Dresses - 1861 |
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| Varina Davis |
Scene 4
MRS. KECKLEY
The twelve hundred dollars with which I purchased the freedom of
myself and son I consented to accept only as a loan. I went to work in earnest,
and in a short time paid every cent
that was so kindly advanced by my patrons of St. Louis.
(Beat.)
All this time my husband was a source of trouble to me. I had a
conversation with Mr. Keckley; informed him we must separate; he was rapidly
debasing himself, and I was not willing to share his degradation. Poor man; he
had his faults, but over these faults death has drawn a veil. My husband is now
sleeping in his grave, and in the silent grave I would bury all unpleasant
memories of him.
(Beat.)
When I arrived in Washington in the Spring of
1860, I sought and obtained work for two dollars and fifty cents per day. Early that winter, I heard Senator Jefferson
Davis was coming up from the South and that his wife, Mrs. Varina Davis, wanted
a modiste. I presented myself and
wouldn't you know one of her best friends was a patron of mine! With such good
recommendations I was hired immediately and arranged to come work at the house
in the afternoon - Mrs. Davis liked to sleep very late.
(Beat)
It was the winter before the breaking out of that fierce and
bloody war between the two sections of the country; and as
Mr. Davis occupied a leading position, his house was the resort of
politicians and statesmen from the South. Almost every night, as I learned from
the servants and other members of the family, secret meetings were held at the
house; and some of these meetings were protracted to a very late hour. The
prospects of war were freely discussed in my presence by Mr. and Mrs. Davis and
their friends.
(LIZZIE enters, working on the chords of a man's
dressing gown. She sits in the rocking chair.
Moments later, SENATOR DAVIS enters SR, looking tired, crossing to exit
SL. He stops when he sees LIZZIE.)
SENATOR DAVIS (exclaiming)
That you Lizzie?! Why are you here so late? Still at work. I hope that Mrs. Davis is not too exacting!
LIZZIE
No sir, Mrs. Davis was anxious to have this gown
finished tonight and I volunteered to remain and complete it.
SENATOR DAVIS
Well, well, it must be urgent.
(He
crosses to her and takes the fabric in his hand.)
Silk?
What's the color? My eyes are
getting old just like the rest of me.
LIZZIE
It's a drab changeable silk, Mr. Davis.
MRS. KECKLEY
(SENATOR
DAVIS smiles and begins to exit.)
I might have added that it was rich and handsome, but did not,
well knowing that he would make the discovery in the morning.
SENATOR DAVIS
It's for me, isn't it?
(LIZZIE
doesn't answer. SENATOR DAVIS glances
back at her.)
A Christmas present from my wife. Don't tell her I know. I don't want to destroy the pleasure she will
have at my surprise.
(He
exits SL.)
MRS. KECKLEY
As the clock struck twelve I finished the gown. It was worn, I have not the shadow of a
doubt, by Mr. Davis during the stormy years that he was the President of the Confederate
States.
(Beat. LIZZIE stores the gown in a chest near the
chaise.)
The holidays passed, and before the close of January, the war was discussed
in Mr. Davis's family as an event certain to happen in the future. Mrs. Davis
was warmly attached to Washington, and didn't want to leave.
(Mrs. Davis, VARINA, rushes on, upset and mostly
dressed, from SL and turns back as if talking to someone behind the dark
screen.)
VARINA
I would rather remain in Washington and be
kicked about, than go South and be Mrs. President!
(She
sees LIZZIE, who stands to help her finish dressing.)
Lizzie, you are so very handy... I should like
to take you South with me.
LIZZIE
When do you go South, Mrs. Davis?
VARINA
Oh, I cannot tell just now. But soon... You know there is going to be
way, Lizzie?
LIZZIE
No!
VARINA
But I tell you, yes.
LIZZIE
Who will go to war?
VARINA
The North and the South. The Southern people will not submit to the
humiliating demands of the Abolition party... They will fight first!
LIZZIE
Who do you think will win?
VARINA
The South, of course. The South is impulsive, earnest, and the
Southern soldiers will fight to conquer.
The North will yield when it sees the South is in earnest, rather than
engage in a long bloody war.
LIZZIE
Mrs. Davis... are you certain there will be way?
VARINA
Certain?!
I know it. You had better go
South with me. I will take good care of
you. Besides, when the war breaks out,
all niggers will suffer in the North.
The Northern people will look on all colored people as the cause of the
war, and I fear they will treat you harshly.
(LIZZIE
reacts, once more hidden behind VARINA.)
The Southern people talk of choosing Mr. Davis
for their President... as soon as we secede we'll raise an army and march on
Washington, and when the war's over, we shall return and I shall live in the
White House.
(LIZZIE
is speechless. VARINA turns to smile at
her then starts to exit.)
Promise me you will consider my proposal?
(LIZZIE
nods and VARINA exits SL.)
MRS. KECKLEY
I was bewildered with what I heard. At first I was almost tempted
to go South with her, for her reasoning seemed
plausible. I thought over the question much, and the more I
thought the less inclined I felt to accept.
(The SR screen lights up with the classic
silhouette of ABRAHAM LINCOLN. After a
moment, LIZZIE turns to look at it.)
The Republican party had just emerged from a heated campaign,
flushed with victory, and a show of war from the South, I felt, would lead to
actual war. I preferred to cast my lot
among the people of the North.
(SENATOR DAVIS escorts VARINA onstage from SL,
both dressed for travel. During the next
few lines, LIZZIE grabs two chintz wrappers from the chest and crosses to them.)
I parted with Mrs. Davis kindly, half promising to join her in the
South if I changed my mind. A few weeks before she left Washington I made two
chintz wrappers for her...
VARINA
Thank you, Elizabeth. I must give up expensive dressing for a while
now that war is imminent. We must all
practice economy.
(She
hugs LIZZIE. SENATOR DAVIS pats LIZZIE
on the shoulder)
Goodbye, Lizzie.
I'll return as soon as the war is over. We'll see each other soon.
(SENATOR DAVIS and VARINA exit into the SR
screen which lights up. As MRS. KECKLEY
narrates, their silhouettes freeze in place.
LIZZIE watches them until the image is frozen then exits SL.)
MRS. KECKLEY
Since bidding them good-bye at Washington, in
early 1860, I have never met any of
the Davis family. Years of excitement, years of bloodshed, and hundreds of
thousands of graves intervene between the months I spent in the family and now.
(The
screen goes dark.)
In the winter of 1865 I was in Chicago, and one day visited the
great charity fair held for the benefit of the families of those soldiers who were
killed or wounded during the war. In one part of the building was a wax figure
of Jefferson Davis,
(The CS lights up with a silhouette of MR. DAVIS
in the center, his shape altered strangely.)
wearing over his other garments the dress in which it was reported that he was captured.
(The silhouette stays still as a crowd of
silhouettes gather around it on one side, joined moments later by LIZZIE on the
other.)
There was always a great crowd around this figure, and as I worked
my way to it, I made the pleasing discovery that it was one of the chintz
wrappers that I had made for Mrs. Davis!
(LIZZIE
reaches out and touches the fabric.)
When it was announced that I recognized the dress as one
that I had made for the wife of the late Confederate President, I
at once became the object of the deepest curiosity. Great crowds followed me,
and in order to escape from the embarrassing situation I left the building.
(The crowd swarms around LIZZIE then follows her
off screen. SENATOR DAVIS is still
frozen in the center as the screen goes dark.)
I believe it now is pretty well established that Mr. Davis had on
a water-proof cloak instead of a
dress, as first reported, when he was captured. This does not invalidate any
portion of my story. The dress on the wax figure at the fair in Chicago
unquestionably was one of the chintz wrappers that I made for Mrs. Davis in
January, 1860. Be this as it may, the coincidence is none the less striking and
curious.
(End
scene.)
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| Jefferson Davis |
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| Jefferson Davis rumor of capture |
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