Serial Black Face by Janine Nabers

Author:Janine Nabers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2015-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Part Two December 1980

A little more than a year later.

The glow from the TV glares in the darkness. The news is playing.

VOICE FROM THE TV A woman from Miami is now telling authorities about a man she links to some of the crimes. She said the killer, who is black, is a former boyfriend who is obsessed with children . . .

We see outside car lights through a window as a car drives up and stops. The car lights then go out.

VOICE FROM THE TV A mother of one of the slain black children says she’s been shown a photograph of the man the Miami woman claims is the murder—

HUGH (offstage) How we gonna do this, huh?

VIVIAN (offstage) You know how. Like they do in the movies.

We see a black mother on TV:

MOTHER ON TV He been in this neighborhood walkin’. And because of this here thang I done seen him more than one time. He here. I done seen him.

HUGH (offstage) Okay, okay. Hold on tight!

VOICE FROM THE TV Police are still investigating the leads.

HUGH enters carrying VIVIAN over the threshold as the TV cuts to commercial. HUGH wears a polyester suit. VIVIAN wears a long plain white dress with the veil in her hair. She is giggling up a storm.

VIVIAN Don’t drop me now.

HUGH Oh I got you baby. Don’t worry.

He puts VIVIAN on the couch and starts to take off her white heels. They look very much in love.

VIVIAN Let me hear you say it one more time. Please? HUGH Mrs. Vivian Montgomery.

She giggles.

VIVIAN What was your favorite part?

HUGH Of what?

She hits him playfully:

VIVIAN Of the ceremony, nut head.

He thinks:

HUGH Squeezing your ass when the justice of the peace said I could kiss you.

VIVIAN Did you feel my tears on your face?

HUGH Yeah. Yeah, I felt them.

VIVIAN I told myself not to cry. I ruined my makeup . . . made myself ugly.

HUGH Tears are good. They keep you honest.

A moment.

VIVIAN So you . . . had a good time?

HUGH Getting hitched? Yeah. It was groovy. It was cool.

VIVIAN becomes self-conscious for a moment.

VIVIAN You really like my dress?

HUGH I do.

VIVIAN But you really like it?

HUGH Come here.

He kisses her. She giggles more.

VIVAN Oh! I’m over the moon! I just want to dance! Come on! Get up and dance with me!

She puts on a record. “Funkytown” plays. She starts to sing along to it and dance.

VIVIAN Dance with me!

HUGH Aren’t your feet tired?

VIVIAN They are, baby, but I’m too happy to stop moving! Get up! Show me what you got!

She dances like mad.

HUGH You really want me to show you?

VIVIAN YEAH!

HUGH You sure?

VIVIAN YEAH!

He gets up and dances. He’s really good. VIVIAN screams.

VIVIAN THAT’S RIGHT! MR. AND MRS. MONTGOMERY!

HUGH ALRIGHT NOW!

They dance into each other and start to kiss. It gets heavy. He tries to take off her dress.

VIVIAN Wait, wait wait. Not yet. I wanna keep it on just a little bit longer.

HUGH Come on, baby. You gotta take it off at some point.

VIVIAN If I take it off I’m scared it’s gonna disappear.

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