CHAPTER 1
ACT I
Scene I
Richmond, VA. Jefferson Davis's White House Garden, July1861. Varina Davis, Jefferson's wife, is a southern white ladywho is 5 months pregnant. She is sitting on a small stool,fanning herself. Elizabeth Van Lew, a southern white lady, isdigging up herbs and plants and putting them into a basket.
VARINA
What is that?
ELIZABETH
That's not it.
VARINA
But what is it?
ELIZABETH
I dunno ... let me see. You know what that is?
VARINA
No.
ELIZABETH
Me neither ... but whatever it is ... it's rotten.Come spring, you need to re-plant this garden orotherwise you should send your gardener to a placewhere he will never hear the dogs bark.
VARINA
So much work to be done.
ELIZABETH
Don't worry, Varina, I'll help. You need help, I'llhelp. That's what friends are for or why would youcall yourself a friend. Right? Right.
VARINA
Lizzy, I'm just plain overwhelmed.
ELIZABETH
First priority is the baby. Everything else will workitself out.
VARINA
I hope so. Jeff has got so much on his mind. I justdon't want to be a burden. Everything in the houseis my responsibility ... It just seems ... well ...you know ... I just think I got pregnant at thewrong time.
ELIZABETH
Children come into this world when they need tocome. We don't really have a say. If you don't knowthat, you're dumb as a bucket of rocks.
VARINA
Child's coming, right smack dab in the middle of awar.
ELIZABETH
Where are your slaves?
VARINA
Most of my niggers are still in Mississippi. It'll beweeks before we get everyone here, moved in andorganized. I don't know whether to scratch mywatch or wind my butt.
ELIZABETH
Varina, I could lend you one of my girls ... if youwant. Just for a few days.
VARINA
Oh, Lizzy, that would be wonderful! I'm not movingas quickly as I like. This is my fifth child. It shouldget easier ... but it doesn't.
ELIZABETH
My girl, Mary, can help you around the house. She'sgood in the kitchen ... knows her herbs, cooks likean angel, and she is a hard worker.
VARINA
She doesn't break dishes?
ELIZABETH
Not even when she's mad.
Both women laugh.
VARINA
I'll take her.
ELIZABETH
Just for a few days. I need her back.
VARINA
Two weeks. Lizzy, just let me have her for twoweeks, and I promise to give her back. What's that?
ELIZABETH
Used to be ginger. But it's all dried up.
VARINA
Lizzy, this is one pathetic garden.
ELIZABETH
Let's replant it now. You and I could do it.
VARINA
That's crazy Lizzy. We are out of season.
ELIZABETH
Plants don't care. Let's dig this garden up right now,me and you.
VARINA
Lizzy, I'm not digging up this garden. Don't befoolish. That's why we have niggers.
ELIZABETH
Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. I've got some herbs athome. Okay, okay, okay, okay, I'll share.
Jefferson Davis enters.
JEFFERSON
A beautiful day for picking flowers, ladies.
VARINA
... and herbs.
Jefferson gives her a peck on the lips. He nods at Elizabeth.
JEFFERSON
Miss Elizabeth, how are you today?
ELIZABETH
I'm just a cracker looking for a barrel. How are youdoing today, President Davis?
JEFFERSON
Don't you start with me, young lady ... noformalities.
ELIZABETH
President Davis, if we are gong to build a newnation we must have structure. I'm sure thatLincoln's friends call him President Lincoln. Youdeserve no less respect than that Yankee.
JEFFERSON
Aren't you the civic-minded one? Okay MissElizabeth, I accept your appellation and I will tryand live up to all that it engenders.
ELIZABETH
Thank you, President Davis. Well I must be going.I will make sure I get those herbs to you Varina.
That is the first thing I must do, then mix the rest ofthe day with my don'ts till I am somewhere in themiddle.
VARINA
Don't forget your nigger Mary and I will send OldRobert round to pick her up.
ELIZABETH
I'll look for his arrival. Good day ... good day....
good day!
Elizabeth exits.
JEFFERSON
Are you going to give me another son, Varina?
VARINA
If the Lord sees fit, he will bless us with a healthyson or a healthy daughter?
JEFFERSON
You are right. The health of the baby is the mostimportant thing. I just think little Joseph would wanta brother to play with.
VARINA
Then let us keep that thought in our prayers.
Jefferson kisses Varina.
JEFFERSON
Your hair looks beautiful in this Virginia sun
VARINA
You are certainly in a jovial mood.
JEFFERSON
I am married to the most beautiful woman in theSouth and I just got word that we won the battle atBull Run. Whipped us some Yankee behind. Ourboys were victorious. Who shall we name him after?
VARINA
My daddy of course.
JEFFERSON
That's fair ... and if it's a girl?
VARINA
Why Mister Davis, she's gonna carry my name.
He laughs.
JEFFERSON
You delight me Varina. These are dark times andyou can actually make me smile.
VARINA
Just doing my wifely duties ... which is why I amhere in our garden.
JEFFERSON
And what was 'Crazy Bet' doing in our garden?
VARINA
Jefferson Davis, don't you dare call her that!
JEFFERSON
Varina, honey, everyone in Richmond knows thatwoman is nuttier than a squirrel turd.
VARINA
Well, she did want to replant this garden, but crazyor not she has been very helpful to me. She's gonnaloan me one of her niggers till the rest of ours arrive.I think that is a sweet thing for her to do.
JEFFERSON
You get no argument from me. As long as her niggerain't crazy like her.
Varina suddenly grabs his arm, and starts to drop. Jeffersoncatches her.
VARINA
Jeff.!! Oh, Jeff, help me. Help me.
JEFFERSON
Varina, are you all right?
Varina holds on to his arm trying to catch her breath. Shegrabs her stomach.
VARINA
Lord have mercy. This isn't going to be an easybirth.
JEFFERSON
Come, let's go inside so you can lay down.
She tries to force herself to smile. Her husband helps herup ... as the lights fade to black.
Scene II
Van Lew Plantation Pantry. Elizabeth is putting some bottlesinto a wooden box. She is being helped by a young black slavegirl, Mary Bowser. The box is being held by an older blackslave, Old Robert. Mary puts an item in the box.
ELIZABETH (in a harsh voice)
No, no, no, no Mary! Don't be stupid. I said redraspberry leaf tea.
Elizabeth takes the item out of the wooden box and gets thecorrect item and places it in the box.
ELIZABETH
See that? That is this one.
MARY
Yes, 'em.
ELIZABETH
Now get me three of those ginger roots over there.
Mary picks out three ginger roots.
ELIZABETH
No, Mary! The biggest ones we've got. Those won'tlast a week. Find me nice big fat roots.
Mary goes through the roots again and picks out some bigger roots.
MARY
Yes, 'em.
ELIZABETH
Varina's not having an easy pregnancy. These rootswill come in handy. Settle her stomach and take theswelling out of her ankles.
MARY
Yes, 'em.
ELIZABETH
You remember how I told you to prepare them?
MARY
Yes, 'em.
ELIZABETH
Sambo ... you let me know if Varina complainsabout Mary. I'll send over another slave.
OLD ROBERT
Yes, Miss Elisabeth.
MARY
His name is Old Robert, Miss Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH
That's what I said.
MARY
No ma'am ... you said Sambo.
ELIZABETH
Old Robert, Young Robert, Black Robert, BrownRobert, what difference does it make. He knowswhat I mean ... don't you Sambo? You know whatI mean. He ain't no fool Mary ... he just a slave.Sambo, don't you know what I mean?
OLD ROBERT
Yes, ma'am.
MARY
You said it again.
ELIZABETH
Said what?
MARY
Nothing.
ELIZABETH
Something on your mind Mary B.
MARY
No ma'am.
ELIZABETH
Damn right. Mess with me. I'll make you feel lowerthan a toad in a dry well. Watch her you old coon,she can get feisty. I hear any complaints about yourwork Mary Bowser ... even a whisper ... you'recoming home. You understand, me?
MARY
I'll be good. I promise.
ELIZABETH
Don't be making no promises you can't keep.Remember you represent me and the Van Lewfamily. I don't want you bringing shame on thename of Van Lew ... even though that ain't yourname. You are a Bowser straight up and down. Thatain't no lie. Are you a Van Lew?
MARY
No ma'am.
ELIZABETH
Damn right you ain't. I told Varina you were a hardworker. Varina lost two children. Here, take theolive oil and you be sure to rub it on her stomachevery evening.
MARY
Miss Elisabeth, you know I'm the best midwife thisside of Richmond.
ELIZABETH
We got to get to the birthin' day, Mary B ... for youto be her midwife. Now I don't want Varina liftinganything heavy or staying up too late. It's your jobto make sure she is comfortable. You are only goingto be there for a little while. You may not even seebirthin' day.
MARY
Yes 'em.
ELIZABETH
Tarbaby, you heard what I told Mary?
OLD ROBERT
Yes, Miss Elisabeth.
ELIZABETH
I'm gonna stop bye next week to make sure nobodypisst in the punch.
MARY
I promise you Miss Elizabeth, I'll keep Miss Varinacomfortable. She ain't gonna want for nothin'. Iknows my duty, and I knows how to do my duty.I done already birth fourteen souls into this world.Mostly white ... ready to bring in more.
ELIZABETH
Not worried about you birthin' the baby, MaryBowser. Witch hazel's in this bottle. It's just thatVarina is a fragile woman. Her husband's gonna bebusy with the war. I know him ... he ain't gonnahave time to look after his wife. You're gonna haveto do that. Hey, you old darky ... you hear what I'msaying?
OLD ROBERT
Yes 'em.
ELIZABETH
Good. Take this box to the wagon.
Old Robert exits with the box.
OLD ROBERT
Yes, ma'am.
ELIZABETH (calls after him)
Don't drop the box or crack the bottles.
In a softer tone to Mary, almost a whisperGood luck Mary.
She hugs Mary. Mary exits.
Black Out.
Scene III
Davis White House State Room. Jefferson and Varina aresitting at a table. Jefferson is writing a letter and drinkingwhiskey. Varina plays solitaire as she sips a glass of absinth.
JEFFERSON
How's the absinth?
VARINA
You know I love the green fairy. How's thatKentucky brew?
JEFFERSON
Good. Come here and let me touch your belly.
VARINA
Why?
JEFFERSON
Want to see if this child is gonna be special. Want toknow whose bloodline is running strong through hisveins ... Howell ... or Davis?
Varina crosses to Jefferson and he puts his hands on herstomach.
VARINA
I love your touch.
JEFFERSON
Oh yes ... he got the Davis magic. This boy's gonnabe real special.
VARINA
Just like his daddy.
JEFFERSON
This child is gonna raise twenty kinds of hell andleave his footprint where they say it can't be done.
VARINA
Just like his daddy.
Varina glances at the letter on the desk that Jefferson waswriting.
JEFFERSON
Varina, I think come September ... I'm going toappoint Judah Benjamin as my Secretary of War.
VARINA
The Jew?
JEFFERSON
He's a good man.
VARINA
He's still a Jew.
JEFFERSON
I like the lucidity of his intellect, he's loyal anddecisive. Judah has a great capacity for labor.
VARINA
Jeff, you know plenty of Christians who couldhandle that post. Can't you give someone less ...well, you know less ...
JEFFERSON
Varina, you handle the house. I'll handle the war.
Jefferson gets up and exits.
VARINA
I'm so mad I could spit.
Black Out.
Scene IV
Davis White House Kitchen. Mary is preparing to bake somebread. She kneads the dough and flours the chopping block asshe is preparing the bread. Old Robert enters with a tray ofsilverware. He starts cleaning the silverware.
MARY
I notice they run y'all ragged in them meetings. Youneed help?
OLD ROBERT
That's flour from my sack. No, little Mary, I'm fine.
MARY
Don't be afraid to ask. I'm a girl, but I'm young andI'm handy.
OLD ROBERT
I can see dat. I ain't blind, I'm just old.
MARY
Just thought I'd ask, that's all. I am of a mind thatwe should help one another, whenever we can. Whois the man with all the papers that keeps visitingMaster Jeff?
OLD ROBERT
Dat is Mister Judah.
MARY
What he do?
OLD ROBERT
He the Confederate Attorney General.
MARY
What's that?
OLD ROBERT
Someone to smoke cigars with. The othercabinet members call him, 'The Shylock of theConfederacy.'
MARY
What's the Shylock?
OLD ROBERT
Damned if I know, but I don't think it's good.
MARY
Why do you say that?
OLD ROBERT
Just the way they say it ... 'The Shylock.' How ya'llskills at brewing coffee?
MARY
Once a white man tells me how he likes it ... hedon't have to repeat it. And he can count on it beingserved that way every time.
OLD ROBERT
Little Mary, you full of yo self.
MARY
Got good reason to be.
OLD ROBERT
Oh.
MARY
Yes suh ... I'm the best.
OLD ROBERT
No, you think you're de best.
MARY
I can hold three plates on one arm, and pour honeywine from a gallon pitcher with the other. I canpluck a chicken clean after wringing his neck andnever miss a feather, flour him, fry him, and makesure the inside is juicy and the out side is crispy. Ican set a table for twelve, put the big forks and thelittle forks in the right place, and make sure the foodgets to the table hot.
OLD ROBERT
You can do all dat, can ya?
MARY
Oh yes, I can. I'm valuable. I ain't no ordinarynigger, Old Robert. I'm a special nigger. I know Idon't look it ... but I am. I know it and somedayyou gonna know it, too. You just tell me the dayyou want to educate yourself on the skills of MaryBowser.
OLD ROBERT
We gwine see. Tell you what ... I want you to brewme two cups of coffee. One is cream, no sugar. Iwant dat cup the color of Sarah Mae. De second cupI want black with one and a half spoons of sugar.Dat's for Massa Jeff. Now, he ain't gonna taste it ...I is.
MARY
You is ...? Well ain't you the one.
OLD ROBERT
If'n it tastes like two spoons of sugar, don't comeasking me if I need help. If'n it tastes like onespoon of sugar, don't come bragging to me, 'bouthow special you is. If'n it tastes like I askedfor ... maybe, and dis here is just a maybe ...maybe I might let you help me. Cuz, I don't believein no special niggers.
MARY
You don't.
OLD ROBERT
Waitin' to find one.
MARY
What you believe in?
OLD ROBERT
I believe in special white folks. I know you ain'twhite so ... gwine wait and see if you de other.Dese white folks you dealing with here is somethin'different.
MARY
You think they gonna win this war?
OLD ROBERT
I know dey gwine to win this war.
MARY
Maybe not.
OLD ROBERT
Don't fool yourself little Mary. Yankee talking aboutdese folks changing their way of life? You think diswhite man gwine give up somethin' he love? Youthink dey gwine take dat kind of talk laying down.No sir. Dey gwine fight cause dey believe dey right.Ain't nothin' worse than fighting with a man knowshe's right and think he got Jesus on his side.
MARY
I wouldn't under estimate those Yankees.
OLD ROBERT
Looka here, dese white crackers are some cruel sonsof bitches. Seen what dey do when dey mad andseen what dey do when dey just sorta angry. Seendem pretend to be Christian and seen dem pretendto be genteel. Dey would rather quit the U.S. of A.,den give up dey slaves.
MARY
I don't think they gonna win this war. Federalgovernment is too powerful.
OLD ROBERT
Dey already winning de war ... and Lord help dechild dey find out ain't for dem. Little Mary, heedmy words ... I can see what you want to happen.Keep dem thoughts to yourself. Dis here war ain'tgwine free one nigger. Ain't gwine bring desewhite folks back into de fold. Make sure you protectyourself. So dat you can survive which ever way diswind blows.
MARY
Thanks Old Robert.
OLD ROBERT
Now let me see you brew two cups of coffee.
Black Out.
Scene V
Davis White House Office. Jefferson Davis and Judah P.Benjamin are looking at some maps.
JEFFERSON
How's Natalie?
JUDAH
She's good. Gonna be harder for me to get thosebottles of wine, now that we are at war.
JEFFERSON
Damn if those French don't make a fine tastingwine. She been in Paris how long, now?
