ACT I

Lights up: On the `Golden Fleece' Tavern in Philadelphia. The year is 1846. Over the entrance door is a painting of the `all seeing eye' in a triangle. There are a few chairs on some of the tables. The Barmaid is black and very pretty. She seems to be in her late twenties, maybe early thirties, but with black women who can really tell. Above the bar on the wall is the yellow fur of a Ram, the head is attached to the fur. A sign above the Ram fur says `The Golden Fleece'. Sarah is sitting at a table counting the days' receipts. Sarah, a white lady, is an attractive raven haired beauty. She has a sensual quality and a strong sense of self. She is not a push over. As Sarah counts her money there is an open wooden box in front of her. She also has ink and pen and makes notations in her ledger. A Patron finishes his drink, plops some coins on the bar and exits the Tavern. He tips his hat to Sarah. Mary brings the coins to Sarah.

SARAH

Good night. (To Patron leaving.) Mary, where is my sewing?

BARMAID

Behind the bar ... next to your journals. You want them?

SARAH

Yes.

Mary goes behind the bar as Sarah puts her ledger away. Mary finds Sarah's sewing kit. She crosses to Sarah, as Sarah puts the coins and paper money into the wooden box.

SARAH

Today was a good day.

Sarah opens the sewing kit and places some quilting squares on the top of her table. The Barmaid wipes down another table. She is swiping a table with a damp cloth and taking the pewter mugs and plates and stacking them on the bar.

SARAH

Mary come here for a second. What do you think?

The Barmaid stops what she is doing at looks at the sewing.

BARMAID

Miss Sarah, I would place them like this?

The Barmaid rearranges the quilting squares on the table top.

SARAH

Ahhh, yes. Think I might finish it by the week end.

BARMAID

Miss Sarah, I got more quilting squares for you.

Barmaid get some extra quilting squares from behind the bar, As Sarah puts on her coat, Sarah, replaces her quilting squares back into her sewing kit.

SARAH

Thank you Mary. You lock up everything, Okay?

BARMAID

Yes, Miss Sarah.

Sarah places her money box into her sewing basket and covers it, and crosses to the door.

SARAH

You're doing fine work Mary.

BARMAID

Thank you Miss Sarah.

Sarah exits. The Barmaid locks the door. She crosses to a table and stacks all the plates together then crosses to the bar with the plates. There is a coded knock at the door. The Barmaid stops and listens. The code is repeated: one knock, then a pause, then three quick knocks. She goes to the door and opens it slightly, then all the way. A black man enters. He is dressed in elegant clothes. It is obvious that he has money. He carries leather saddle bags draped across his shoulder. He is in his 40's and educated. This is Prince.

PRINCE

Guess I'm early.

BARMAID

First one.

PRINCE

Your mistress?

BARMAID

On her way home. She gonna be busy sewing.

PRINCE

That's good

BARMAID

Drink?

PRINCE

Later.

BARMAID

How many coming?

PRINCE

Three others.

BARMAID

Hungry? I have apples and cheese.

PRINCE

Maybe you could fix something for the others.

Prince sits at a table and pulls out a small book from his leather bag.

BARMAID

You can read?

PRINCE

Yes.

BARMAID

What chu reading?

PRINCE

A book of poems by a man named Edgar Allan Poe.

BARMAID

What's it called?

PRINCE

The Raven and Other Poems.

BARMAID

You buy that book here?

PRINCE

No, Boston ... just before I left.

BARMAID

I know my alphabet.

PRINCE

Really?

BARMAID

Want to hear it?

PRINCE

Of course.

BARMAID

A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I, (pause) and J, and K, and L ...

PRINCE

Keep going you're almost there.

BARMAID

O, M, P, R-rah, S, and T,U,V,W ... XYZ.

PRINCE

Very good.

BARMAID

Thanks.

PRINCE

You left out some letters.

BARMAID

Which ones?

PRINCE

The letter N and the letter Q.

BARMAID

You'd think I wouldn't forget the letter N.

PRINCE

Still that was very good. Do you recognize words?

There is a knock at the door. The same coded knock as before. Both Prince and the Barmaid stop talking and listen. The knock is done a second time: one knock, then a pause then three quick knocks. She goes to the door and opens it, a black man enters; he is elderly. His clothes are worn but you can tell they were once very fine and expensive, he wears a hat. This is Grandpa. He carries a loaf of French bread.

GRANDPA

Cold out tonight.

BARMAID

Not fit for man nor beast.

GRANDPA

Am I the first?

PRINCE

No, I'm here.

GRANDPA

Damn, I like being first. Young lady, a hot buttered rum would ease the chill on these weary bones.

BARMAID

Coming right now.

Grandpa crosses to Prince. They shake hands. He tears off a piece of bread.

GRANDPA

Taste this. Nice leather bag, beautiful work. Where did you get it?

PRINCE

I made it. I have a leather shop in Boston. (He tastes the bread.) Still warm. It's good.

GRANDPA

I baked it myself. That is how the French cook their bread. I was up last night. All night ... thinking about our meeting. Only thing I could do was cook ... to take my mind off tonight. You like duck stew?

PRINCE

Yes.

GRANDPA

After the meeting ... come to where I'm staying I will feed ya duck stew. Cooked the French way. How many of us are there?

PRINCE

Four.

GRANDPA

Is that enough?

PRINCE

That depends on what we decide to do.

GRANPA

Four. Not bad. Not bad. It's a start.

PRINCE

Let us see the character of each man and that will help us decide a course of action.

GRANDPA

That's why you're the leader Prince. That's why you're the boss.

BARMAID

Want some free cheese with that rum?

GRANDPA

Sounds good, Sweet lady ... sounds very good.

Grandpa crosses to the bar.

GRANDPA

Will your mistress miss it?

BARMAID

I know how to cover my tracks.

GRANDPA

Got an apple to go with that cheese?

BARMAID

Green or red?

GRANDPA

Red. Want me to peel it for ya?

BARMAID

No, I know what I'm doing.

PRINCE

Young girl, let Grandpa prepare that apple. He's a cook.

BARMAID

Really?

GRANDPA

I can peel this apple and never break the skin. One continuous spiral from the stem to the bumpy bottom. Takes a delicate touch with a firm grip.

BARMAID

Where you learn that?

Grandpa picks up the red apple and begins to peel it with a paring knife. He carefully and slowly peels the apple as he talks.

GRANDPA

I used to cook for the President.

BARMAID

Polk?

GRANDPA

No. The one that really counted. The first one. That bastard that set all this mess in motion.

BARMAID

That was 70 years ago. How old are you?

GRANDPA

Good black don't crack.

BARMAID

I can see that. How old are you?

GRANDPA

Old enough to know better and smart enough not to get...