***Sorry. Unannounced (but strangely far out planned) hiatus on Friday. To quote Silent Cal, "You lose."***
A room inside the mansion. PORT, a porcine capitalist in a pinstripe suit with a pencil-thin moustache is kneeling before a bed. There are candles all around, almost as though they are in mourning. Port is holding the hand of his wife, a ghostly beautiful woman who is hardly breathing at all.
PORT
My love, my love. Hold on just a little bit longer. Help is on the way.
Boston opens the curtains which serve as a door to the room. He enters.
BOSTON
Mr. Port? Colonel Butler is here, with the…gentleman you requested.
Butler bursts in and points his pistol at Port. Boston is stunned, but too cowardly to do anything.
BUTLER
Where are my guns, Port?
PORT
In the stable, round back.
Butler turns and leaves.
BOSTON
Sir, honestly, why did we have to employ that odious man’s services?
PORT
Boston, do you think you could get through Confederate lines, to Haiti, and bring someone back?
BOSTON
No, sir, unfortunately.
PORT
Where is this witch doctor that cost me so much anyway?
The Bokor enters. He is somewhat impressed with the room. He sniffs the air, and puts his palms against a wall. He runs his fingers through the flames of a candle. Port finally stands and looks at the Bokor. The Bokor cocks his head slightly and observes Port. We get the feeling that if Port didn’t speak, the Bokor would simply stand there all day observing.
PORT
Can you cure her?
The Bokor looks at Port’s wife, much in the same way he has observed everything else in the room. She is not a person, so much as an interesting toy or bauble to him.
BOKOR
She almost dead, boss. I not a medicine man.
PORT (growing red with fury)
You promised me…
The Bokor holds up a hand.
BOKOR
I no power over dis life. But she ain’t gone be dis life much longer. She crosses over, I bring her back.
PORT
You can bring back the dead?
BOSTON
Sir, you can’t believe this…
PORT
Shut up, Boston! Tell me, can you really bring back the dead?
The Bokor grins.
BOKOR
Bringing dem back, dat’s da easy part. But it ain’t dat simple.
PORT
What do you mean?
BOKOR
Sometimes dey come back good. Sometimes dey come back bad.
PORT
No earthly medicine can save her. But I can’t live without her. Do it. Do it now!
BOKOR
She not over da line yet. I can’t bring her back from where she ain’t been.
Port goes up to his wife, takes the pillow from under her head and suffocates her with it. He turns away from her body in disgust. The Bokor grins and walks up to Port’s wife.
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