At the end of intermission, the following enter and sit single file, row by row, and sit in the cemetery-- Mama Gibbs, Silky Pimpston, Rolonda Gibbs, Wally Webb, Papa Webb, Joe and Si Crowell, Crack Ho Soams, and Howie Newsom. They remain placid throughout the act, facing out mostly, only half-turning their heads to each other as they speak.
Mr. Establishment, a middle aged white man in a three-piece suit strolls across the stage after "the dead" have entered. He looks at the names of the graves, weaving in and out of the rows, then walks over to center stage and surveys the audience for a few moments before giving his speech.
Mr. Establishment: A lot can go down in 9 years, my friends. It's summer time. The year is 1998. Gradual changes in Grover's Heights. Pintos are getting' rarer. Of course, there are still a few pimps commin' round slammin' Cadillac doors, but it ain't nothin' like it was back in tha day. Everybody else just walks now days. Keisha Washington's old Chevy Nova broke down on her just last week. Has to get up at 5:oo a.m. just to catch the bus for work. The only other light on in town right now is at the po-lice station, Keisha's oldest boy Malcolm just got picked up snoopin' around Mrs. Forrest's back yard. There's not a house in Grover's Heights that ain't got bars on it, but they don't do too much good. When a man is hungry or needs a fix, there ain't nothin' in the world that can stop him. That boy Malcolm got picked up for possession in 2003. Spent ten years in a cell for it. When he got out, there weren't no jobs for him that'd do so much as pay the rent or buy a few scraps for his children. He was so ashamed of who he'd become, he put a bullet in his head. Keisha joined him here in our cemetery a few years later. None of her other babies made it our of Grover's Heights either. It's a shame too, all that wasted potential...nothin' new though. (He walks back to the graves) This here is the new part of the cemetery. People like to come here and pay their respects to all their dead homeys. Other's just to use their "illegal narcotics" and what have you. Don't do no harm though. There's your friend Mama Gibbs, (As he passes her) got cancer of the liver just a few years back doctor's told her there was nothing they could do to save her she had no insurance. And here's Silky Pimpston, a fine upstanding citizen, the glue that held this community together. Constable Warren, sorry to say, saw to it that 10 grams of crack cocaine found their way into the trunk of his car when he got pulled over. (Pointing out toward the audience) Died over there in the penitentiary, sorry to say. There's Papa Webb, shot 41 times in a dark ally after that convenience store robbery on Cherry Street. Word around here is that he wasn't even armed, the five 0 planted a colt 45 on him, said it was self-defense. Here's his boy Wally, o.d.'d back in '96 and Rolonda Gibbs--stabbed at school for wearin' the wrong colors. And who could forget Crack Ho Soams who loved the wedding so much, remember? (pause) You know, the dead don't stay interested in us living people for very long. Gladly, gladly they let go of the earth, the ambitions and the pleasures they had, if any,-- the things they suffered.and the people they loved. The earth part of 'em burns away, and they quickly get indifferent to what's goin' on here in Grover's Heights. They've got a good place to wait here. What they're waitin' for I can't tell you, only the Mack God knows that for sure. Some of the things they say maybey'll hurt your feelings, but that's just the way it is: Pimp and ho; hustla' and hata'; playa and perpetrara': all those terribly important things just fade away. And what's left when your memory's gone and you're identity?...What's left? (pause) Well here are some live people. There's Steppin' Charlie, our undertaker, and Aunt Baby Sis', one of the only people from Grover's Heights to ever move on up out of here.
(Steppin' Charlie and Aunt Baby Sis' enter from opposite ends of the stage.)
Aunt: Good Mornin', Steppin' Charlie.
Charlie: Do I know you?
Aunt: Aunt Baby Sis' --fool! Mama Gibbs little sista'.
Charlie: Where you been, girl? Damn! It's been 'bout 15 years since I last saw you.
Aunt: Moved out of the hood so long ago I can't even remember it. Guess I'm 'a have to though. My wig shop down in A Thousand Oaks went out of business last month. Can't afford my rent no mo'. Middle class sure was nice, though.
Charlie: I wouldn't know about that…..Very sad our journey today.
Aunt: Sure is.
Charlie: I always say, I hate to supervise when young folks gets popped. (He looks down at an empty grave by Mama Gibbs)
Aunt: (shaking her head as she passes Mama Gibbs' grave) Crooked ass doctors...(she reads Silky Pimpston's epitaph). I didn't know Silky died!
Charlie: Hung himself in his prison cell after gettin' 20 to life.
Aunt: Crooked ass cops.
Silky: I can't stand this. Live folks always getting' up in our business.
Mama Gibbs: Silky, calm down! That's just my sister.
Aunt: What happened to the Crowell brothers?
Charlie: Got shot in the same drive-by. It was an awful shame.
Aunt: Things sure have changed in the hood.
Charlie: No they haven't!
Aunt: (Pauses, realizes he's right) Why'd he do it?
Charlie: Who?
Aunt: George. Why'd he have to go and kill Yolonda like that?
Charlie: Caught her messin' round with another man. (pointing to Howie's grave) Howie Newsom stopped by the Gibbs house for one of his "deliveries". I guess that Webb girl was just lonely. But what Yolonda and Howie didn't know was that George had got fired that morning. When he came home early and saw what they was up, to he put a cap in both their asses. Damn that was cold!
Aunt: (shaking her head) That's a shame.she shoulda known better though. If I ever caught Frank messin' around...(She points to the sky and shakes her head angrily at the thought)
Charlie: (looking over all of the graves) Poor Mrs. Webb. That's the fourth child she's lost this decade, and there's two years left to go.
Aunt: Oh look, here they come now.
(Aunt Baby Sis' and Steppin' Charlie join the funeral party, which includes Mama Webb and Pimp Gibbs, as they appear on the stage R. George is in handcuffs being escorted on by Constable Warren from stage L.)
Mama Webb: What is he doing here?! What is he doing here?! That bastard done killed my baby!
George: I'm sorry! I'm Sorry!
Mama Webb: I'll kill you, you son of a bitch! You killed my baby!
(She lunges at George, but is pulled back by the group. Pimp Gibbs stands between Mama Webb and his son.)
Constable Warren: (pointing his gun at Mamma Webb) Stand back you!
Pimp Gibbs: Stay cool! Stay cool! (to Mama Webb) It'll be alright, bitch, Chill!
(Yolonda walks out of the funeral party to her grave. Constable Warren lowers his gun. Pimp Gibbs makes sure that everything is cool with Mama Webb. He then walks over to hug George and tell him goodbye but Constable Warren pushes him back.)
Yolonda: Hey.
Crack Ho Soams: What's up, girl?
Mama Gibbs: Hey, Yolonda. Have a seat. We all just chillin'.
Yolonda: Papa Webb! How are you? (He glances over to her, but says nothing. She then notices Howie and blushes.) H-h-hello Howie.
Howie: Hey Yolonda.
Yolonda: It's so cold here.
Mama Gibbs: Keep yo' head up girl. It'll be alright.
(The funeral group begins to walk away, Mama Webb is dragged off stage R. by Steppin' Charlie and Aunt Baby 'Sis. Constable Warren pulls George off stage L. Pimp Gibbs stays behind until his son is gone. He then walks slowly over to Mama Gibbs' grave. He pulls out a bottle of liquor and pours some on the ground, then takes a swig for himself.)
Yolonda: Look! There's Pimp Gibbs leaving some liquor for you.
Mama Gibbs: Yes dear.
(Pimp Gibbs sighs. After a long pause, he walks slowly off stage R.)
Yolonda: I never realized how troubled--How in the dark live people are. From morning till night that's all they are…troubled. (She pauses, then realizes) Wait! We can go back, cant we?!
Mama Gibbs: Why would you want to do that?
Yolonda: (to Mr. Establishment) I can see Mama Webb again, all of my brothers and sisters! I can see George again...before he changed so.
Mama Gibbs: Don't do it Yolonda. Please don't.
Crack Ho Soams: It's not what you'd think it'd be.
Yolonda: But it's all I have. It's all I know.
Mama Gibbs: If you must go, at least choose an unimportant day.
Yolonda: I choose my 12th birthday, Mr. Establishment.
Mr. Establshment: Very well then. It's May 5th 1989.
(The cemetery goes completely dark. Mama Webb enters stage R. with a crying baby in her arms. Several more children follow her in and sit down at the kitchen table. She is trying to fix breakfast for all of the screaming, fighting children and talk on the phone at the same time. Papa Webb crosses to stage L. and sits in a chair. He is talking on the phone. Two white prison guards stand behind him. Yolonda slowly approaches her mother.)
Mama Webb: I'm goin' crazy over here, I can't take no mo'! I got 7 little rowdy ass kids to take care of, 2 jobs to get to, I ain't slept in at least 48 hours, the dryer ain't worked in months the damn dogs is rippin' shit right off the clothes line, but I guess it don't make no difference 'cause these kids is already used to wearin' rags. And now that piece a shit in the driveway is clunkin' and sputtin' and spurtin'. How am I gonna get to work now?! The first of the month ain't for 12 mo' days, Rufus. How am I gonna feed these kids?!
Papa Webb: I'm sorry baby, I-
Mama Webb: Wally! Yolonda! Get yo' asses down here and take care of these kids!
(Yolonda enters the house)
Yolonda: Good morning Mama!
Mama Webb: Take this baby! (She hands the baby off to Yolonda... To Papa Webb) What am I gonna do? I can't take this anymore!
Papa Webb: Just what exactly do you want me to do, Cleo. Why do you think I'm in here? Why? Was I buyin' cars with that money? No. Booze? No. Was I sleepin' around? No. I sold that shit for you and for them kids. We can't live on what I make. If it wasn't for the money I made out there hustlin', what would them kids have eaten for the last 2 years? It's not my fault I got laid off. I'm so sorry baby!
Guard: Time's up!
Yolonda: Can I talk to Daddy?
Mama Webb: In 6 to 8 months, baby.
Papa Webb: I've got to go Cleo...I love you.
Yolonda: I just wanted to talk to him, while he's still-
(Mama hangs up on cue "Cleo". The lights dim on Papa Webb.)
Mama Webb: There's no time for that. I've got to get to work.
Yolonda: But Mama! Mama please, just look at me! I'm dead Mama-George Gibbs shot me! Wally's dead too. He o.d'd at the crack house on 5th street, we felt just awful about it. Dad got shot after that hold up two years ago. We tried to sue the police department but couldn't afford enough lawyers. Don't you remember Mama? You don't have much time left with us. But just for a moment, let's try to be happy. Let's just look at each other!
(Mama just keeps making breakfast getting ready for work throughout the entire monologue. She pulls a hair clip out of her pocket on cue "happy".)
Mama Webb: Oh, before I forget, that little hoodlum George Gibbs done left this hair clip for you. (Yolonda smiles at the acknowledgement of her birthday) Tell him not to come 'round here no more! I'm gonna be late. Make sure Wally doesn't go outside without his gat. This neighborhood sure ain't what it used to be.
(With that she is gone. Yolonda gives the baby to one of the children.)
Yolonda: (to Mr. Establishment) Oh, I can't take it anymore. Take me back! I never realized just how horrible life in the ghetto was. Does anybody understand just how bad every, every minute is? Does anybody care?
Mr. Establishment: No.---A couple reverends maybe, and a few politicians pretend to, but they don' t really care.
Yolonda: Just one more look. Goodbye Grover's Heights. Goodbye crack house. Goodbye run down school. Goodbye to all the pimps and dealers, to red and blue lights, to gunshots in the middle of the night! Oh, earth you're too horrible for anyone to realize you! Take me back to my grave, Mr. Establishment!
(The lights dim on the Webb house and slowly return to the cemetery. Papa Webb has returned to his grave. Yolonda takes a seat by Mama Gibbs.)
Mama Gibbs: Was it what you expected?
Yolonda: No. It was much worse than I remembered.
Silky: That's the ghetto life you knew, Yolonda. You'se born into a world with no hope of ever moving ahead. You so far behind whitey that you'll never catch up. Since you can't afford a descent education, you won't be able to get a job that pays you enough money to have the time to enjoy what little life you have left. Look at this cemetery. Most of us died right around our 21st birthdays. (pointing to the prison) And there's another one down there with more of us caged up...waiting. Nothing's expected out of us so we go nowhere.
Mama Gibbs: Now Silky, that ain't the whole truth and you know it.
Yolonda: White people don't understand, do they?
Mama Gibbs: No..they don't.
Mr. Establishment: (looks at his rolex) Getting' late. Most everybody' s asleep now in Grover's Heights. There's Keisha Washington getting' off the bus right now. Commin' home from the graveyard shift this late at night, only to do it all again tomorrow. Aya, Everybody's resting in Grover's Heights. You get a good rest too. Good night.