ACT 2 Scene 2:
Watch Lucia Bradford perform Mamie Till’s Lament, “My Son, My Child” below.
ACT I Scene 3:
(HE entreats his mother to let him go.)
EMMETT TILL:
MAMA, PLEASE, PLEASE. PLEASE.
WHEN YOU ARE AT WORK,
I DON’T INVITE FRIENDS UP TO MESS AROUND –
WATCH TV –
MAMIE TILL:
BO, I WANT YOU WITH ME.
EMMETT TILL:
IT’S NOT FAIR! IT’S NOT FAIR!
MAMIE TILL:
WATCH YOUR MOUTH, YOUNG MAN.
MY RULES ARE TO KEEP YOU OUT OF TROUBLE.
I WORRY ABOUT YOU NIGHT AND DAY, BO.
EMMETT TILL:
I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.
I’LL BE A MOTOR POLICEMAN ONE DAY –
TAKE CARE OF YOU AND GRANDMA, TOO.
MAMIE TILL:
STOP PESTERIN’ ME. WAIT ‘TIL YOU’RE SIXTEEN!
EMMETT TILL:
UNCLE MOSE COULD TAKE ME DOWN SOUTH WITH HIM.
IT’S PERFECT RIGHT NOW, MAMA, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE.
MAMIE TILL:
ALL RIGHT, BO, ALL RIGHT.
YOU WORE ME DOWN.
YOU MAY GO.
EMMETT TILL:
THANK YOU, MAMA. THANK YOU, MAMA.
MAMIE TILL:
(To UNCLE MOSE)
UNCLE MOSE, DO NOT ALLOW BO AROUND WHITE FOLKS
WITHOUT YOU AT HIS SIDE.
UNCLE MOSE:
NO NEED TO FUSS.
I’LL WATCH OVER HIM.
(To EMMETT)
Four rivers and six lakes round by us.
MAMIE TILL:
EMMETT, LISTEN CLOSELY TO ME
EVERYTHING IS SEPARATE IN THE JIM CROW SOUTH:
DRINKING FOUNTAINS, RESTROOMS, RESTAURANTS, EVERYWHERE.
EMMETT TILL:
THAT IS THE SILLIEST THING I’VE EVER HEARD!
MAMIE TILL:
REMEMBER, WHEN A WHITE PERSON SPEAKS TO YOU,
“YES SIR. NO SIR. YES MA’AM. NO MA’AM.”
EMMETT TILL:
Yass’uh. Yass’um.
MAMIE TILL:
I’M NOT PLAYING, BO!
EMMETT TILL:
I GET IT, MAMA. LEAVE ME ALONE.
MAMIE TILL:
DON’T YOU DARE COME UP IN MY FACE!
THE DELTA IS NOT CHICAGO!
PROMISE TO WATCH YOUR STEP
OR I’LL CHANGE MY MIND AND KEEP YOU HERE.
EMMETT TILL:
I PROMISE, MAMA. I PROMISE.
LOOK! NO MORE TYING STRING AROUND DADDY’S RING.
IT’S A PERFECT FIT NOW!
UNCLE MOSE:
Come on, now!
All aboard!
All aboard for Money, Mississippi.
MAMIE TILL:
Bo, you didn’t kiss me goodbye.
How do we know I’ll ever see you again?
EMMETT TILL:
(Runs back into her arms)
Oh, mama.
MAMIE TILL:
(SHE waves)
BYE, BO. BYE-BYE. BYE, BO.
End Scene 3
ACT I Scene 4:
(Mamie Till appeals to God for help and understanding. Roanne Taylor angrily confronts and questions God. At home alone in their separate kitchens, there is an underlying sense of dread.)
MAMIE TILL:
LORD, WATCH OVER MY BOY.
ROANNE TAYLOR:
GOD, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU WENT WRONG?
MAMIE TILL:
HE IS A GOOD BOY.
ROANNE TAYLOR:
YOU PUT EVIL IN US JUST BECAUSE YOU GOT MAD ABOUT AN APPLE.
MAMIE TILL:
PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON MY BOY.
ROANNE TAYLOR:
WHY DOES KNOWLEDGE MEAN GOOD AND EVIL?
MAMIE TILL:
LORD, KEEP AN EYE ON MY BOY. MY BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL BOY.
ROANNE TAYLOR:
I NEVER UNDERSTOOD THOUGH MY PREACHER DADDY TRIED TO EXPLAIN.
MAMIE TILL:
MY LEGS FEEL WEAK. THEY WON’T HOLD ME UP.
I CAN’T STAND ON MY OWN TWO FEET.
WHAT HAVE I DONE? EMMETT, COME BACK.
COME BACK TO ME. COME BACK.
LORD, DID YOU STOP MY LEGS TO SHOW
I WAS WRONG TO LET HIM GO DOWN THERE.
LORD, PLEASE FAVOR MY LEGS.
I’LL TAKE THE NEXT TRAIN DOWN
BRING HIM BACK TO OUR HOME
I WAS WRONG TO LET HIM GO DOWN.
WHAT HAVE I DONE? EMMETT, COME BACK.
COME BACK TO ME. COME BACK.
End Scene 4
CLARE COSS 