Stephen Flaherty
The Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes
(Papa Ge cackles and vanishes offstage. Lights come up on Mama Euraile, holding one of the viewers and the frightened Little Girl.)
[STORYTELLER (MAMA), spoken]
Ti Moune had promised her soul, pledged her life for this pale mulatto boy. But, can you guess what's next?
[STORYTELLER 8 (ARMAND)]
The Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes (Buh-zome). A history lesson!
[STORYTELLER (MAMA), spoken]
The boy's name was Daniel Beauxhomme. A boy from another world
The first person. A person descended for the French!
[MEN]
Some say...
Some say...
Some say...
Some say...
[WOMEN]
Some say...
Some say...
Some say...
Some say...
[STORYTELLER]
Four generations past
In the time of Napoleon
There came to this island
A Frenchman, Armand
[All]
Armand!
[ARMAND]
Armand!
[STROYTELLER]
And he built a great fortune
And he built a grand mansion
And he wed a fine lady
So pale and so blonde
[MADAME ARMAND]
Armand!
[MADAME ARMAND]
But Armand took his pleasure
With the women who served him
Black peasant girls from
The village beyond
[TWO WOMEN]
Armand!
[STORYTELLER]
And the loveliest one
Bore the Frenchman a son
Such a fine peasant son
[ARMAND]
For Armand!
[WOMAN]
A beautiful child
The pale color of coffee mixed with cream
[ALL]
The beautiful one, the beautiful son Beauxhomme
[STORYTELLER]
They named him:
[ALL]
Beauxhomme
The beautiful one, the beautiful son
Beauxhomme
[STORYTELLER]
And the boy grew to be a man
And the great war began
[ALL]
Blacks fought against French
And the hated Napoleon
They fought for their island
And finally won
[Men (Not Armand)]
We Won!
We Won!
[BEAUXHOMME]
We Won!
[BEAUXHOMME]
And Armand sailed for France
By the seat of his pants
Driven out by his beautiful son!
[ALL]
The beautiful
One
The beautiful
Son
Beauxhomme, Beauxhomme
[BEAUXHOMME]
What was his is now mine!
The Beautiful
One
The beautiful
Son
Beauxhomme!
[BEAUXHOMME]
Beauxhomme!
[STORYTELLERS]
But Armand left behind a terrible, terrible curse
I curse my son
[ARMAND]
I curse my only son!
[STORYTELLERS]
I curse his sons
[ARMAND]
All of his sons!
[STORYTELLERS]
Generations
[ARAMAND]
All Beauxhomme yet unborn!
[STORYTELLERS]
In advance
[ARMAND]
Your black blood will keep you forever on this island...
While your hearts yearn forever for France!
[STORYTELLERS]
The unlucky one, the unlucky son
Beauxhomme, Beauxhomme
From bad blood to worse
The name of the curse:
Beauxhomme
The despise us for our blackness
It reminds them where they're from
The sad, sad tale
Of the Beauxhomme!
Beauxhomme!
[TI MOUNE]
Tonton, he needs me! Without me, he'll die!
[MAMA]
He will not want you, Ti Moune!
[TI MOUNE]
Please, Mama. Please Tonton
Give me your blessing and let me go. I will go to him!