The Book of Grace. Suzan-Lori Parks

A Spell

       An elongated and heightened (Rest). Denoted by repetition of figures’ names with no dialogue. Has sort of an architectural look:

       Buddy

       Vet

       Buddy

       Vet

       This is a place where the figures experience their pure true simple state. While no action or stage business is necessary, directors should fill this moment as they best see fit.

       ((Parentheses around dialogue indicate softly spoken passages—asides; sotto voce.))

       [[Brackets indicate possible cuts for production.]]

       Prologue

      Vet, standing outside near the Border Fence, wearing his uniform and, with his binoculars, scanning the horizon.

      Grace, in her kitchen, wearing her waitress uniform, and holding her red-marbled composition book, her Book of Grace.

      Buddy, outside, in a no-man’s land, wearing t-shirt and jeans with a keychain on his belt. He’s got his footlocker and a full-to-bursting plastic shopping bag.

       Vet

       Buddy

       Grace

       (Rest)

       Grace

      There’s a lot of good in the world

       Vet

      It’s all about Us and Them

       Buddy

      I can’t forgive what he’s done. What he’s done to me. No way

       Grace

      You just gotta look for it. The good. You just gotta look

       Vet

      That’s why Borders are good. They keep us contained

       Buddy

      I can’t forget it, but I could forgive it. Forgiving it will depend on him

       Grace

      Sure there’s bad. But there’s good too. Like

       Vet

      Borders keep Us on our side and Them on theirs. And that’s a good

       Buddy

      Forgiving it will depend on him not forgetting it. Funny how that works, huh?

       Grace

      Like that baby hippo and that old turtle. They’re friends. That’s good

       Vet

      And that’s a good thing. Borders

       Buddy

      I can’t forget it

       Grace

      Like the man who saved the lady when she fell into the river. He risked his own life to do it. That’s good

       Vet

      Borders and Fences, they say it all without saying a word: that is yours and this is mine

       Buddy

      I can’t forget it

       Grace

      Why did he save her from drowning? Cause something in him was leaning toward the good

       Buddy

      I can’t forget it. Ok?

       Vet

      I see an Illegal trying to get in here and I say, “Stop in the name of the U.S. Border Patrol.” That’s my job

       Buddy

      He’s my “father.” I use that term loosely. Let me be specific: he is my very own motherfucker

       Grace

      There’s so much evidence of good. So I write it down in my book.

       Buddy

      I’m Buddy, Pop. Here I am. This is how I turned out

       Vet

      I have contained myself. I’ve changed. I’m on the good foot now

       Buddy

      Unspeakable. The things he did to me

       Vet

      He’ll try to make me admit to stuff

       Buddy

      Unspeakable

       Grace

      Looking on the bright side doesn’t cost nothing

       Buddy

      It can’t be forgot but it can be forgiven

       Vet

      I’ve contained myself

       Buddy

      Three chances he’ll get. Three strikes: 1-2-3

       Vet

      I’ve contained myself

       Buddy

      Hey, I am, after all, his son

       Grace

      You just gotta look for it. The good. The good is all around

       Vet

       Buddy

       Grace

       (Rest)

      Reading from her Book:

       Grace

       The Book of Grace.

       (Rest)

      A bell, thumb-cymbal sounding, rings.

      As the lights change, Buddy hides his plastic bag. He hides it somewhere in the audience—silently asking folks to keep his secret.

       Chapter 47

      Early morning. A small one-bedroom house. Fairly well kept.

      Reading from her Book:

       Grace

      The Book of Grace, Chapter 47: Aliens.

      Vet, working on his speech, recites while watching the tv and ironing his green uniform. He finishes one and begins ironing another.

       Vet