EMMETT I don't know nothin bout Soldier and I don't know nothin bout Jeffrey.
MRS RAYMOND Say he don't know nothin bout neither one of em.
Ben looks offstage right. He looks at Mrs Raymond.
BEN Well. Thank you Mrs Raymond.
MRS RAYMOND Well.
She shuts the door.
SCENE VI
The kitchen, morning. Mama is fixing breakfast and Carlotta is setting the table. Big Ben is on the telephone. He is dressed in overalls and a work shirt with long underwear showing at his collar and cuffs. There is a knocking at the door, OSREAU is peering in through the glass.
BIG BEN (On telephone) You tell him call Topcat or one of them Williams boys. Well you call him then. Tell him he don't want his job we got people standin in line.
Big Ben holds the receiver to one side and turns to the table.
BIG BEN Sister let Osreau in there. Cain't you see him standin yonder? (Into telephone) And bring your hundred foot tape.
Carlotta goes past Big Ben to the door.
CARLOTTA You closer to the door than me.
BIG BEN (To telephone) All right.
He hangs up the phone. Osreau enters the kitchen. He is a black mason in his early forties, dressed in work clothes.
OSREAU Mornin. Mornin.
Big Ben crosses the kitchen on his way to the front door for the paper.
BIG BEN We havin any breakfast this mornin?
MAMA Osreau, you had your breakfast?
OSREAU Yes mam.
MAMA Well set down anyway. You all come on now. Carlotta get the chair. And call Papaw. Where's Benny at?
Mama carries platters to the table. Carlotta gets the extra chair and goes to Papaw's door and calls him. Ben enters in his work clothes and sits down. Big Ben enters with the paper and sits at the bead of the table and Papaw comes out and takes his place.
MAMA Carlotta did you want to say grace?
CARLOTTA You say it Mama.
MAMA Bless oh Lord this food to our nourishment and us to thy service. And please Lord send that boy back to his family safe and sound. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen,
FAMILY Amen.
They raise their heads and begin to pass the platters. They eat in silence. Mama looks sideways at Carlotta who is eating woodenly. The phone rings. They freeze. They look at Carlotta. The phone rings again and she pushes back her chair and rises and goes to answer it.
CARLOTTA Hello. Hi Jenny. No. I don't know. Ben went down yesterday and filled out a report. Yes. I know you will. I'll call you. Thanks Jenny. Bye.
She hangs up the phone and turns back to the table. The rest of the family continues eating. Carlotta suddenly hurries past the table and out of the kitchen. They listen to her footsteps going up the stairs. They continue to eat. Ben wipes his mouth and gets up from the table and leaves the kitchen and goes upstairs. The lights dim in the kitchen. The lights come on stage right in Carlotta's bedroom. There is a window with white curtains and a simple bed with a ruffled white counterpane and Carlotta is sitting on the bed with her head in her hands. Ben knocks on the door.
CARLOTTA Just a minute.
She wipes her eyes and gets up and goes to the door and opens it and then turns back and begins to collect her purse and her things to go to work, keeping her eyes averted. Ben stands just inside the door watching her. Outside it is just daylight and there are early morning street sounds.
BEN We'll find him Carly. He's just pulled some dumb stunt. Chances are he'll be at school today...
CARLOTTA (Turning and facing Ben) Well if he's not in jail and not in any of the hospitals I'd like to know where you think he is.
BEN Well. I think there's a good chance he might be on his way to see Landry.
CARLOTTA Oh yeah. Fifteen year old boy on his way to Detroit in the dead of winter with maybe forty cents in his pocket.
BEN He could be.
She gives up looking through her purse and sits down on the bed and begins to cry, putting her hands to her face. Ben comes to the bed.
BEN Hey.
He sits down and puts his arms around her and she turns and puts her face on his shoulder, crying quietly.
BEN Come on Baby.
CARLOTTA Oh Ben I don't know what I'm going to do. He just won't do a thing I tell him anymore and he's in trouble at school all the time and I'm so tired of this damn job and tired of living in this damn house and I want to be on my own and I can't and it's just getting worse everything's getting worse and Landry damn, damn, damn him he's going to get married again and I still love him and he's just a son of a bitch, Ben, and now this . . .
BEN I know Baby.
He pats her and she stops crying and sits up.
CARLOTTA I've got to go. I'm going to be late.
BEN Did he tell you he's getting married?
CARLOTTA No. He doesn't have the guts. But I know he is.
BEN Is he still sending the checks?
CARLOTTA Yes. Yes.
She gets up and collects her things. She dabs at her makeup.
BEN Why don't you go back to school?
CARLOTTA I can't afford to go to school.
BEN I told you I'd send you.