Turn

The rain pit pats on the window.

Quentin walks into the room and takes a dour but bemused survey of the room before he addresses the older woman who is dressed in a full length nightgown, and making herself comfortable to sleep.

Q: Are those new slippers already back in the box, Miss?

MM: Yes they are. I did not like them.

Q (smirks in spite of himself) And why not, ma’am?

MM: Because they felt like they were going to give me blisters. (she scrunches her face into a fidgety masque of uneasiness and kicks herself into the coverlet on the bed before continuing) You know that I have a very particular kind of foot, and that Doctor Lewis has told me i should only wear the or-cot-thicks he makes me.

Q: Begging your pardon Miss, I believe the pair of orthotics that Dr. Lewis is making will be at least a week in coming. You’ll be in stocking feet and I’ll have to darn your hose every night if you go on returning every set of set of slippers I purchase from the Penney store.

MM: I have told you that I prefer no irritant upon my sole, and (Maddy stops and notices that Quentin is wearing a raincoat) well Quentin Jackson, don’t you tell me that you are planning on venturing into that deluge.

Q: Was there anything else I might help you with before you retire for the evening, Ma’am?

MM: Well, yes, I would like to know what in heavens you are setting off for with that patchy raincoat and those tired boots.

Q: I have a pressing matter to attend with and I will be out for a good spot of time, I would fix to make sure that there was nothing else that I could not b e helping get along.

MM: First of all, it is attending to, not attending with.

Q (nodding complacently and with rote repetition he speaks without any inflection): yes attending to…

She interrupts his lackadaisical speech, not giving Quentin the chance to grasp for a next word.

MM: attending to what, Quentin? It’s pouring rain out there. (she gestures to the window) You’ll catch your death.

Quentin stares out the window with bleak regard for the dilapidated windowsill. He does not turn to look at Maddy but speaks almost inaudibly as if addressing the window.

Q: I don’t suppose myself to be that lucky.

MM: What’s that you’re saying? Speak up now.

Quentin maintains his stare out through the window without a blink,while his mind is elsewhere.

He answers; off-tempo, with the unmistakable muttering shake of fear. His words clip into a staccato ill-fitted to the deep resonance of his voice.

Q: Just wouldn’t be that lucky, is all…

MM: Lucky for what? Whatsa matter with you, son?

Quentin remains staring for a moment before turning to Maddy with tears glossing his eyes.

MM: Quentin. What is going on?

Q: I’m sorry to have disturbed you Miss. I’ll be retiring but Rafaela would mostly be in her quarters should you need anything during the night. (He had been innocuously positioning himself closer to the door) Were you sure there wasn’t anything I could help you with, because the hour is later and later.

MM: Well yes sir, that is how time works. I have seen the latest of times in my years and i am only 74 years old. But you, sir, are not free to leave here.

Quentin stands transfixed with his brow furrowing.

MM: Quentin Jackson, I swear to you that if you do not explain what you are up to I will give your Christmas presents to the orphanage.

Q: I’m sure they would be glad.

MM: That’s enough now, son. Something is the matter with you and moreover I have seen the look you have in your eyes before. You look like you are possessed by desires to do something injurious to someone.

Q: Ma’am of all things I hate to think I would ever disrespect you or your wishes, but I have not heard more than 3 words you have said. I am expected and wouldn’t think to leave any chores undone tonight.

MM: This is about that little neg… I meant that girl who got hurt the other night, isn’t it? Don’t lie to me, I won’t have any mendacity in this house. (She waits an impatient beat and continues her questioning with emotion approaching rage) Well, tell me what’s this about? That girl?

Q: I would never lie to you, Miss Maddy. Yes it is about that girl, as you say…

His voice trails off ominously and he collects his scattered thoughts for enough time to fix his collar and turn toward the door.

Q: I’ll be off then, Miss.

Maddy’s face contorts into a full visage of fury before she throws her coverlet off her legs.

MM: You most certainly will not. You are not leaving this premises until you explain yourself to me. What are you aiming at, for sooth?

Forgetting that he is speaking to his employer he jaunts his thoughts out loud.

Q: Truth is a little darker when your name is Quentin Jackson and not Madeline Dare.

Quentin retracts into himself as much as he can knowing he cannot retract what he has said.

MM: And what does that mean? Are you starting up on me? I have been nothing but kind to you and you are persisting in conducting yourself inappropriately.

Q: No Ma’am, I only meant that the moonlight is getting thin and I’d better be seeing myself off.

MM: You are planning some altercation. I see it in your eyes, boy. (raising her voice) I will not tolerate any fighting in my father’s house. Do you hear me?

Quentin; whose speech pattern had always been closer to lackadaisical, faltered but drove through with the strength of an emotion that wound him into a near frenzied shock as he addressed Maddy with a reverent but fixed defiance.

Q: Miss Maddy, can you look at me in my eyes and with a truthful heart tell me that you believe I would bring violence here..? To you?

Maddy shakes her head and turns so her eyes cannot be met.

Q: My guilt washes over me. I must not have said, or perhaps you do not know…

Quentin trails off for a moment before collecting himself with a pointed gaze that is practically begging to be answered before continuing as if he were responding to someone else in the otherwise empty room.

Q: I owe my family’s safety to you. My children will see an education for your generosity. (He begins to weep silently) You think I would repay you with war? Is that how you judge my soul, Miss?

M: I don’t pretend to judge any soul, Quentin.

Q: Well, that’s all well not to pretend but you judge ne’erless.

M: Excuse me?

Q: You judge me now, aren’t you?

M: I’m not judging you Quentin, I’m telling you to see reason and let this pass from your hands. This is not your fight, and you would do better at letting the law make this right.

Quentin suddenly seems overcome by emotion, rage and anger melting into a sad heap of man. He enunciates with emphatic cynicism that sounds like he is screaming a whisper.

Q: The law is not right, Miss Maddy. The law is white.

Maddy’s upper lip shakes and she falters in lack of a reasonable response that she knows does not exist.

Q: Do you think I can go home and tell my daughter everything is going to be okay, Ma’am?

He continues through bared teeth, apparently forgetting that he is speaking to his employer.

Q: I wouldn’t dare. There two boys out there who hurt a little girl who didn’t do nothing save being born the wrong color.

Quentin’s voice takes an ironic twist that discordantly sounds like jocundity. He laughs slightly and his anger mounts as he realizes that he has gone too far past decorum, and he vocalizes a cavalier steadfastness as he finishes his thought with a piercing gaze.

Q: They ain’t gonna see no punishment, those boys for what they did. That seem right to you?

Maddy’s suddenly seems to swoon and she keeps her eyes closed for a long interval. When she finally answers, her speech is breathy and without conviction as she attempts a final appeal to reason.

M: You don’t know that, Quentin...

Q: I don’t think I know much, Miss, but I know I can’t look my wife or children in the eyes. I can’t. I’m ashamed.

M: Oh Quentin, what could help you?

Q: Not a thing, ma’am.I am forsaken.

M: Can’t you let this cup pass from you?

Q: No, miss. I cannot.

M: You’ll take your soul to hell if you walk out here tonight, Quentin.

Q: what soul do I have, miss? Three fifths of one? (He scoffs) I’ll be coming with more anyway, and that old devil’l thank me.