rest easy, pilgrim

"Mahalia Jackson"
a poem by James A. Emanuel

"I sing the LORD'S songs"
(palms once tough to stay alive,
alarm clock on five).

Cinnamon cheeks, Lord,
cornbread smile.  SONGS feed your ribs
when you're hungry, chile.

Washboard certainties,
soldierly grace, text and style
in her brimming face.

Your hand on your heart,
her voice in your ear:  pilgrim,
rest easy.  Sit here.

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___________________________

{Manhattan Murder Mystery}

(Helen Moss "auditioning" for the Liptons and their friends)

HELEN
Give me your hand.  Hold on.  Try not to fall.  Hold on.

LARRY
(in a flat tone with little expression)
I'm trying, I'm trying.

HELEN
Quickly!  Hurry!

    LATER

HELEN
They're asking two hundred thousand dollars for it.  Yeah.  They say it's Monet, but I say it's a fake.

(auditioning from a different part in the "script")

HELEN
Ever since Joe came home from Vietnam, he's cast a pall on everything.  A dark cloud, a pall.

EXT.  A building - Night

INT.  Sy's workshop - Night

Sy and Marilyn, Larry and Carol, and Marcia Fox and Ted are there:  Sy is working with video and audio equipment, measuring, listening, and splicing.

HELEN'S VOICE
Hello, Joe?  I can't talk much right now, and if I sound strange, don't get alarmed.

                           Sy rewinds the videotape.

HELEN'S VOICE
Hello, Joe?  I can't talk much right now.

                         Sy fast-winds the tape.  (Squeak-zip-squeak)

HELEN'S VOICE
Ever since Joe came back from Vietnam -- he's cast a pall on everything.  A dark cloud, a pall.

                        Sy rewinds the tape.

HELEN'S VOICE
A pall.

                         Sy rewinds the tape.

HELEN'S VOICE
Pall.

                        REWINDING SOUND.

HELEN'S VOICE
Pall.

    LATER

HELEN'S VOICE
Hello, Joe?

FULL SHOT of the room.  In the foreground, Sy is working with his tape recorder.  On his right, Larry is standing and watching him.  On his left, Marilyn watches.  Carol, Ted, and Marcia are behind Sy:  everyone is watching the process.

TED
It's so...

CLOSE-UP SHOT on the tape recorder.  

                     Sy starts it.

HELEN'S VOICE
Hello, Paul?  I can't talk much, right now... and if I sound strange, don't get alarmed.

MARCIA
(smiling)
Perfect.

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