Read Online Thirty Pieces of Silver: A Play in Three Acts by Howard Fast - Free Book Online

Mrs. Graham, you wouldn’t know tragedy, even if it comes and slaps you straight in the face. You wouldn’t know it at all. Not a blessed bit. You want me to cry for you? Well, I got no tears in me to cry for you. I watched white folks too long to want to cry for them—too long.
    ( JANE has moved back from HILDA during this. She moves back until she stumbles against the stair railing, and suddenly she grips it, bends convulsively and begins to weep. HILDA watches her, at first without moving — and then HILDA ’ s anger breaks and she goes toward JANE . JANE draws away from her. )
    JANE Leave me alone, Hilda.
    HILDA That way. You never talked to me that way before.
    JANE Leave me alone.
    HILDA Why don’t you ask me to be a friend? My God, white woman, why don’t you ask me? Where you going to turn for friends? You know what you’re doing?
    ( JANE shakes her head. )
    No, no—how could you? You seen just a little dirt in people around you. Jane—now I call you Jane—Jane, I been rubbing that dirt off them all my life. But where are you going? What are you doing? It takes strength to do what you’re thinking to do. It takes understanding. Where you going to get it, child? Where?
    ( JANE shakes her head dumbly, looks at HILDA again for a moment, and then turns and walks up the stairs slowly. From behind, she looks like an old woman. HILDA makes a suggestion of a movement toward her, then stops and stands watching her. Then the doorbell rings. JANE doesn’t hear it; all sounds are blocked out for her at this moment. Nor does HILDA respond at first. When the bell rings again , HILDA turns and slowly walks to open the door. She comes out of the entranceway after FULLER , who enters, hat in hand. )
    FULLER Good evening. I took the chance of finding Mr. Graham in.
    ( HILDA just stands there, watching him. )
    I said good evening.
    HILDA I heard.
    FULLER Where’s Mr. Graham?
    HILDA He’s out.
    FULLER When do you expect him?
    HILDA I don’t expect him. Maybe you expect him. I don’t. Makes no difference to me if he stays out or comes back.
    FULLER ( staring at her, turning his hat over in his hands ) Then you don’t mind if I sit down and wait—Hilda? That is your name, isn’t it?
    HILDA ( who turns on another lamp as FULLER seats himself ) No.
    FULLER What?
    HILDA You asked, is that my name. I said no. That ain’t my name. My name is Miss Smith—Smith. That’s my name.
    FULLER What are you talking about, girl?
    ( He hardens. This is a breath of the real FULLER. He is shedding his softness, his cheap veneer .)
    HILDA You know what I’m talking about, Mr. Fuller. That’s your name, isn’t it?
    FULLER Where I come from——
    HILDA ( interrupting savagely ) I know—just let it drop! I know. Where you come from, black people don’t talk like that to white people. What makes you think it’s any different here than where you come from? But I’m talking like that to you, Mr. Fuller. Plain, ordinary English. Only when I use it, you don’t understand it, do you? Just such a pity! When I say something, it makes no sense, does it? You got to ask what I’m talking about.
    FULLER Real trouble, girl. You’re going to find a lot of real trouble, behaving this way.
    HILDA I’m used to trouble. Trouble’s an old friend of mine. Pity is, I never stopped to think about it until these past few days.
    FULLER You don’t know who I am, do you, girl?
    HILDA Oh, I know, all right. That’s easier than knowing ABC, and I even know that. It’s an old gift of my folks to smell a policeman.
    FULLER ( controlling himself very carefully ) I don’t know what’s eating you, girl, but it never pays to make enemies of those who could be your friends.
    HILDA You a friend of mine, Mr. Fuller?
    FULLER I could be, Hilda.
    HILDA And then I could go everywhere and say, Ain’t no harm coming to me. Mr. Fuller,