Venus by Suzan-Lori Parks

Author:Suzan-Lori Parks [Parks, Suzan-Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Drama, American, General, African American, Women Authors
ISBN: 9781559367387
Google: _lT6CAAAQBAJ
Amazon: B00B3M3RFY
Publisher: Theatre Communications Group
Published: 2012-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

The Baron Docteur

Get her out of that filthy cage for one.

Teach her French. Who knows.

The Mother-Showman

Be good to her, Sir.

We sure will miss her.

She always was my favorite child.

Scene 17: You Look Like You Need a Vacation

The Negro Resurrectionist

Scene 17:

The Chorus of the 8 Human Wonders

Ive been in this line of work for years and years

and every time the crowds gather

and the lights flash on me

I freak out.

That girl they call The Venus, The Venus Hottentot, shes

holding up, well,

pretty well: Stupendous. Stupendous. Still:

Shes got that far away look in her eye.

That look of someone who dont know whats in store.

She signed on for 2 years. “One more month,” shes thinking.

“One more month one more month one more month.”

But should I tell her? No, I havent got the balls to say:

Lovely Venus, with yr looks theres absolutely no escape.

The Venus

Whos there.

The Baron Docteur

A friend.

Im yr biggest fan.

The Venus

No—

The Baron Docteur

I find you fascinating.

The Venus

No—

The Baron Docteur

Not like that, Girl.

Im a doctor.

“Doctor.”

Understand?

The Venus

The Baron Docteur

(Rest)

The Venus

I understand.

The Baron Docteur

Ive brought you chockluts. Here.

You like?

He gives her a red heart box of chocolates.

The Venus

I like.

The Baron Docteur

Well.

Lets have a look.

Stand still stand still, sweetheart

I’ll orbit.

Dont start Ive doctors eyes and hands.

Well.

Extraordinary.

(Rest)

(Rest)

Sweetheart, how would you like to go to Paris?

The Venus

“Paris.” Well.

“Paris.”

Whats that?

The Baron Docteur

A big town!

Only a short boat ride away!

The Venus

“Paris.”

The Baron Docteur

“The City of Lights!”

I’d teach you French.

The Venus

“French.”

The Baron Docteur

Ive paid yr Mother off.

Yd have a clean room.

Mix with my associates.

Move in a better circle.

The Venus

“Circle”

(Rest)

Yr hands. Theyre clean.

Are you rich?

The Baron Docteur

Very.

The Venus

I like rich.

The Baron Docteur

Its settled then.

I find you quite phenomenal.

Hell, you look like you need a vacation. Say “yes!”

Say “yes” and we’ll leave this minute.

The Venus

Do I have a choice?

The Baron Docteur

Yes. God. Of course.

The Venus

Will you pay me?

The Baron Docteur

I could pay you, yes.

The Venus

100 a week.

The Baron Docteur

Deal.

The Venus

New clothes and good meals.

The Baron Docteur

Whatever you want.

The Venus

My own room.

The Baron Docteur

(Rest)

Yll sleep with me.

Say “yes.”

The Venus

The Baron Docteur

The Baron Docteur

Think it over. I’ll stand by.

The Venus

The Baron Docteur

(Rest)

The Baron Docteur steps out of sight to let her think it over.

Enter The Mother-Showman.

She rattles a stick along the bars of the cage.

The Mother-Showman

Not gone yet?! Shit.

I guess he changed his mind.

He’ll be back inny minute wanting his money

and if I dont fork it over he’ll gun me down most likely Christ!

What a business this is.

9 ugly mouths to feed plus my own.

Hup Ho, Girl! Come on!

We got a crowd out there.

The Venus

(yes.)

The Mother-Showman

Theyre fresh from the pubs and I hate to say it

but the stench of liquor on their collective breaths

The Venus

(yes.)

The Baron Docteur takes The Venus from her cage.

The Mother-Showman continues her rant.

The Mother-Showman

is only matched by

the stench of yr shit in this pen, Girl! Jesus!

The Venus

(yes.)

The Mother-Showman

Jesus! Yr an animal!

The Venus

Yes.

The Baron Docteur

Come on then.

Lets get going.

The Venus

Yes.

The Baron Docteur

Paris! Paris! Paris! HO!

The Venus

Yes.

The Negro Resurrectionist

Scene 16:

The Intermission:

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