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Copyright Rhituparna Basu 2010 A Re-Imagining of the Final Scene in Master Harold and the Boys Preface The

following section is meant to be inserted into the original play right around the beginning of the part when Sam is trying to stop Hally from bad-mouthing his father (somewhere in the first half of Page 1248, in the Course Reader) and replaces the play through to the end. The setting/roles here are slightly altered as follows: the action is taking place in the family kitchen, Sam is the familys houseboy (basically, a maid) and Willie is the gardener. Sam is sweeping, while Willie is sharpening a slasher (a long, sword-like blade used to slash down grass). The Play [..] SAM: Dont talk about your father like that. HALLY: I can talk about him how I want. Hes my father. SAM: Youll regret it Hally. HALLY: Why are you defending my father? He thinks you are a stupid lazy black whos always trying to steal from him! [A pause. Sam takes the broom and turns away.] SAM: Im not defending your father. HALLY: What goes on between me and my dad is none of your business, alright? SAM: Then why you tell me about it? HALLY: You know what Sam? Youre right. I shouldnt talk to you about these things. Youre too stupid to understand. [ Hally is converting his bitterness about his father into aggression towards Sam. Consequently, his aggression/emotionality here should seem a bit excessive to the situation. Sam, in an effort to undercut Hallys escalating emotions, tries to lighten the atmosphere.] SAM: I thought it was your dad that thought blacks were stupid. HALLY: Im starting to think my father is right. SAM: Well, that makes you wrong. So why are you still shouting at me? HALLY: Shut up Sam. SAM: Oh, look what a bright spark he is! You have to go to school to learn those fancy words, Willie.

[Willie is laughing by now. Hally stands up in a rage, chair screeching back on the floor.] HALLY: You mustnt talk to me like that! [Sam and Willie continue to laugh as they work, having a little fun at the boys expense.] WILLIE: Come on Master Harold. Were just joking. HALLY: You know what? My mother is right. SAM: Oh ja? [Willie is shaking his head in amusement.] HALLY: I should never have been so friendly with you two. SAM: Willie, if this is Hally friendly, whats he like unfriendly? [Willie and Sam chortle away.] HALLY: Thats right Sam. We are not friends. Just because Ive been friendly, doesnt mean were friends. Youve forgotten who I am and what your place is. [The laughter peters out, the rhythmic sound of the slasher blade being polished slows then stops altogether. Sam and Willie turn to look at Hally. Hally has a nervous, triumphant look about him at the sudden attention his words have brought on him. There is a long moment of silence.] Sam (quietly): Whats our place Hally? And who are you? [Willie looks from Sam to Hally, then lowers his eyes, uncomfortable at the turn of events.] HALLY: Youre the houseboy and hes the gardener. Okay? Youre workers. (The pause should be interpreted as if he were about to say blacks.) And Im the boss. Alright Sam? WILLIE: Master Harold [Hally looks directly at Sam.] HALLY: Thats right Willie. Im Master Harold. [Sam looks at Hally for a long moment.] SAM: Are you done now, Hally? HALLY: Not until you call me Master Harold too Sam. I will not tolerate you speaking to me like this ever again.

[An ominous silence.] SAM: How do I speak to you? HALLY: Like this! You cant talk to me like this. SAM: Like a friend? [Hally stares, defiant.] SAM: You can think of me as a friend. That is your generous gift to me. But how could I dare to think of you as my friend? Is that it? You have no reason to be so angry at your father Hally. At least he knows what he is. HALLY: You dont know my father. And you dont know me. SAM: No Hally. I know you very well. I sat on the floor and you lay in your bed, and I told you stories in the dark until you fell asleep while your parents had their parties. I built you forts and bows and arrows and did all the things your father should have been doing except he was lying in his bed drunk. Oh I know you Hally. I raised you. It is you who dont know me. You asked me why I built that kite for you. Do you want to know? [Hally stands like a petulant king waiting to be mollified.] SAM: I dont remember. [Hallys breath falters.] SAM: Because I built many things for you. And when you got tired of them or they got broken, I would take them to my children. Yes, Hally, I have children of my own and I could not build kites for them because I was building them for you. You didnt know that, did you? No. Sam was there just for you. To be a friend, father whatever you liked, but only when you liked. I was there for you to teach things to, so you could feel clever about yourself. You are right Hally. I am a stupid man. All those times you came down to the compound, I thought you were learning something too. [Sam deflates. He lets out a deep, exhausted sigh. Hally is grim and preoccupied.] HALLY: I was wrong about everything. [Sam is suddenly filled with remorse. He takes a step towards Hally.] Sam (full of emotion): Hally? Hally. Listen to me. Listen to what I am saying. You are not your father. You have

[Hally turns and spits with violence into Sams face. Willie bolts upright, slasher in hand. Sam simultaneously extends his hand out to Willie in a restraining gesture.] WILLIE: Boet Sam. [Sam gestures for Willie to leave. Willies face is grim. Without looking at Hally, he exits. Hallys expression is fierce and tearful, full of bravado, fear and confusion a vague but ominous sense of the far-reaching consequences of the nights events is creeping up around the periphery of his immediate emotions. Sam slowly wipes his face and turns back to Hally. He Looks at him for a moment, then turns away. He straightens himself up, takes his broom and puts it away with purpose.] SAM: Good night, Master Harold. [Sam exits. The lights dim onstage until only Hally and the closed door from which Sam has exited are illuminated.]

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