The Sunset Limited

The black puts his hands on the table at either side of his plate and bows his head.

Black: Lord we thank you for this food and we ask that you keep us ever mindful of the many blessins we have received from your hand. We thank you today for the life of the professor that you have returned to us and we ask that you continue to look after him because we need him. (Pause) I aint sure why we need him. I just know we do. Amen.

The black looks up. He smiles at the professor.

Black: All right. You tell me if you like this.

White: It looks good.

They begin to eat.

White: This is good.

They eat.

White: This is very good.

Black: Supposed to be good. This is soul food, my man.

White: It’s got what in it? Molasses?

Black: Mm. You a chef, Professor?

White: Not really.

Black: But some.

White: Some, yes. Bananas, of course. Mangos?

Black: Got a mango or two in there. Rutabagas.

White: Rutabagas?

Black: Rutabagas. Them aint easy to find.

White: It’s very good.

Black: It gets better after a day or two. I just fixed this last night. You need to warm it up a few times to get the flavors right.

White: Like chile.

Black: Like chile. That’s right. You know where I learned to fix this?

White: In Louisana?

Black: Right here in the ghettos of New York City. They’s a lot of influences in a dish like this. You got many parts of the world in that pot yonder. Different countries. Different people.

White: Any white people?

Black: Not if you can help it.

White: Really?

Black: Messin with you, Professor. Messin with you. You know these French chefs in these uptown restaurants?

White: Not personally.

Black: You know what they like to cook?

White: No.

Black: Sweetbreads. Tripe. Brains. All that shit they dont nobody eat. You know why that is?

White: Because it’s a challenge? You have to innovate?

Black: You pretty smart for a cracker. A challenge. That’s right. The stuff they cook is dead cheap. Most folks throws it out. Give it to the cat. But poor folks dont throw nothin out.

White: I guess that’s right.

Black: It dont take a lot of skill to make a porterhouse steak taste good. But what if you cant buy no porterhouse steak? You still wants to eat somethin that tastes good. What you do then?

White: Innovate.

Black: Innovate. That’s right, Professor. And when do you innovate?

White: When you dont have something that you want.

Black: You fixin to get a A plus. So who would that be? That aint got what they want?

White: Poor people.

Black: I love this man. So how you like this?

White: It’s very good.

Black: Well let me have your plate.

White: Just a small portion.

Black: That’s all right, Professor. You need to eat. You done had yourself a pretty busy day.

The black puts more of the dish on the professors plate and comes to the table and sets it in front of him.

Black: You want some more coffee?

White: Yes. That would be great.

He brings the pot to the table and pours his cup and sets the pot on the table and takes his seat and they continue to eat.

White: You dont think a glass of wine would have been good with this?

Black: Oh no. I think it might of been good.

White: But you wouldnt drink it.

Black: Oh I might. One glass.

White: Jesus drank wine. He and his disciples.

Black: Yes he did. Accordin to the bible. Of course it dont say nothin about him hidin it in the toilet.

White: Is that really a favorite hiding place?

Black: Oh yes. I’ve knowed drunks to lift the tops off of toilet tanks in strange places just on the off chance.

White: Is that true?

Black: Naw. It could be, though. Wouldnt surprise me none.

White: What is the worst thing you ever did.

Black: More jailhouse stories.

White: Why not?

Black: Which why not you want to hear?

White: Is bludgeoning the man in the prison cafeteria the worst thing you ever did?

Black: No. It aint.

White: Really? What’s the worst?

Black: Aint goin tell you.

White: Why not?

Black: Cause you’d jump up and run out the door hollerin.

White: It must be pretty bad.

Black: It is pretty bad. That’s why I aint tellin you.

White: Now I’m afraid to ask.

Black: No you aint.

White: Have you ever told anyone?

Black: Oh yeah. It wouldnt leave me alone. The soul might be silent but the servant of the soul has always