Читать книгу The Book of Grace - Suzan-Lori Parks - Страница 13

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.