A Dandelion among Lilies

Shay Wood
Characters: Callie Ford, Paul, Maud Martha, Pauls conscience, Mauds
conscience, Mama

(Callie Ford and Paul are with each other while Maud is paused on the
opposite side of the stage.)
Callie Ford: Its a good day for running out of town
With a man whose eyes are brown.
Callie Ford and Paul: Well be happy all our day.
Callie Ford: And he must call me
Paul: very sweet.
Callie Ford: And I must call him clever.
Callie Ford and Paul: Well come back
Together at dawn
Callie Ford, Paul, and Maud Martha: And hate each other forever. (The
two women look at Paul and he looks at Maud for And hate, then turns to
Callie for each other.)

(Now Callie is paused while Paul and Maud are together.)

Maud Marth: And he must call me

Pauls Conscience: Tragedy.

(Maud and her conscience speak to each other in conversation.)
Maud Martha: If you got a good Tragedy,
Mauds conscience: ripping, thorough, unridiculous, bottom scrapping,
Maud Martha: you were doing,
Mauds conscience: she thought,
Maud Martha: very well, you were doing well.
Maud Martha: And I must call him,
Pauls conscience: thrilling with the threat of danger.
Mauds conscience: She was afraid to suggest to him that
Maud Martha: most people merely live from day to day until they die.
(Maud is paused again as Paul and Callie join together again in
conversation.)
Paul: Well go where trees leap up out of hills.
Callie Ford: And flowers are not planned.
(Consciences are now center stage.)
Mauds conscience: There might even come a year when no one
Pauls conscience (questioning): no one

Mauds conscience: no one on earth would think of him at all.

Callie Ford to Paul: First, he must press my hand,
Mama to Maud Martha: its a hard cold world and
Callie Ford to Paul: In the afternoon discover my waist,
Mama to Maud Martha: a woman better do all she can
Callie Ford to Paul: At night my mouth, and ask for the taste.
Mama to Maud Martha: to help herself get along. (Pause) a woman.
(Mama walks off stage and Maud walks a step toward the center.)
Mauds conscience to Maud Martha: rage and focus on rage. (Mauds
conscience walks off stage and Maud takes another step toward the center.)

Callie Ford to Maud Martha: come back together at dawn. (Callie walks
off stage and Maud takes another step.)

(Maud is now center stage)

Maud Martha: Im fighting for myself.

Brooks, Callie Ford, 359

Brooks, on Thirty-fourth Street, 165
Brooks, Paul in the 011 Club, 146-150
Brooks, Mother comes to call, 168
Tate, Black Women Writers at Work, 42-43