[TI MOUNE (Spoken)]
Help! Someone come quickly!
A car has crashed!
Hello? Can you hear me?
[WOMAN]
His skin is so pale, she thinks
[TI MOUNE]
Can you see me?
[MAN]
His eyes open for a moment
[ALL WOMEN]
Eyes from another world
[STORYTELLERS]
Gray as the sky
[TI MOUNE]
Oh gods, oh gods
You saved my life for a reason
And now, I think I know why!
(The storytellers go offstage. All at once, a peasant aka Agwe appears, carrying a lantern. He is immediately followed by others.)
[PEASANTS (varoius solos)]
He roared down the road
Like the devil himself
Going too fast around the curves
Sent us scrambling off the road
Like chickens
[ALL]
He has what he deserves!
PEASANTS (Solos)
Papa Ge wants him
And Papa Ge will have him
The boy is dying before our eyes!
Help him!
Hide him!
TONTON
No, don't touch him!
Better leave him where he lies
Even a wealthy man
Sometimes dies
TI MOUNE
Please!
He needs help!
TONTON
If this boy dies in our hands
The rich will send the police!
TI MOUNE
He needs care!
MAMA
And if he lives, oh how angry
The god will be!
TWO PEASANTS
The only thing that will save
The boy's life
Is to send him back to his world!
TI MOUNE
The only thing that will save the boy's life is
Me! Please, Tonton!
TONTON
I will find out where he comes from
MAMA
Julian! No!
TONTON
I will find who he is, and soon!
But till I return
You care for him, Ti Moune
(Tonton Julian turns to leave. Mama Euralie clings to him and watches in horror.)
STORYTELLER (ERZULIE) (Spoken)
And, bidding his wife and daughter goodbye, Monsieur Julian set off down the road, toward the nine mountains. (A wolf howl is heard when the storyteller is speaking.) Off to a world, he knew nothing of. The world of the grands hommes (Grand-dome)
STORYTELLER (ASAKA) (Spoken)
The peasants carried the boy to the village and laid him on Ti Moune’s mat
PAPA GE (Spoken)
And her long vigil began
PEASANTS
One day gone by
And two days gone by
PEASANTS (Solos)
The boy has the will
Of the devil himself
Clinging to life by one small thread
If it hadn't been for Julian's daughter
ALL PEASANTS
He'd certainly be dead
PEASANTS
Look how she bathes him
And touches and protects him
She binds his wounds
And she rubs his chest
ALL PEASANTS
It's as if the girl's possessed!
MAMA
You need food
You need sleep
You just can't
Go on without
Any sleep
TI MOUNE
Mama, ssshh
MAMA
Have some tea
Have a rest
TI MOUNE
His skin is hot
He needs me here
BOTH
Can't you see
How much this matters to me
I know what's best
MAMA, PEASANTS
Now the sky is growing dim
And the clouds are racing by
And the gods are looking down
At a boy they meant to die
And a girl who placed herself
In their way
Pray!
Pray!
PEASANTS
Three days gone by
And four days gone by
I fear for the girl and her mother
As well
Nothing but trouble looms ahead
Monsieur Julian could be deep
In danger
ALL
Arrested, lost or dead
TONTON
Oh, Asaka, Mother of the earth
Guide the feet
Of this poor peasant man
Hear my prayer
Which way there?
And which way home?
TI MOUNE
I need herbs
MAMA
Your father
Gone
TI MOUNE
Mama, herbs
MAMA
And you don't
Care
Oh, my god, what
Has this boy
Done to you?
TI MOUNE
Mama, ssshh
He needs rest
He needs care
MAMA
Your Tonton lost
Because of you
BOTH
Can't you see
That he's in terrible danger
What must I do!
MAMA, PEASANTS
Now the sky is turning dark
And the wind is turning chill
And the gods are out for blood
They've been cheated of their kill
By a girl without the sense to obey
Pray!
Pray!
(The peasants dance in a ritual dance, ultimately to ward off the evil with violent shouts and chants they’re sure is coming. The sky darkens as the storm approaches.)
MAMA
Julian!
Where is my Julian?
Bring my Julian home!
GUARD
You want what?
TONTON
I've come so far and I need...
GUARD
Get back!
TONTON
I have some news for Monsieur...
GUARD
Get back!
TONTON
Monsieur Beauxhomme has a...
GUARD
Peasant pig!
TONTON
Please, I beg...
GUARD
You must be mad!
TONTON
I must see Monsieur...
GUARD
Monsieur Beauxhomme!
TONTON
I have come so far
GUARD
So far to die
TONTON
I have found his son!
MAMA, PEASANTS
Now the sky has turned to black
And the wind is like a knife
Pape Ge is coming back
For the boy who clings to life
And the girl will have the gods
To repay
MAMA, SOME PEASANTS
Pray!
PEASANTS
Papa Ge, Don't
MAMA, SOME PEASANTS
Come around me
Pray!
PEASANTS
Papa Ge, Don't
Come around me
MAMA, SOME PEASANTS
Pray!
PEASANTS
Papa Ge, Don't
Come around me
MAMA, SOME PEASANTS
Pray!
PEASANTS
Papa Ge, Don't
Come around me
MAMA, SOME PEASANTS
Pray!
PEASANTS
Papa Ge, Don't
Come around me
Don't come
Around me
Don't come
Around me
ALL
Pray!!!
(The peasants run offstage, fighting against the high winds, as Andrea continues the story for the viewers and The Little Girl.)
STORYTELLER (ANDREA) (Spoken)
Some say it was the worst storm the gods had ever sent. The peasants prayed that they would live to see the morning. But what of Ti Moune? Some say she had gone with of course the sleep for so long, her mind wandered further into her dreams. That she heard the wind and rain but only the beating of heart for this pale, dying boy