Harlem Duet

Rhythmic music opens the scene as Malcolm X tells the tale of George Washington selling a slave for a gallon of molasses. Billie’s apartment is empty, save for her bed and a few boxes. Othello surveys a final clean-up and then walks into the bedroom. Billie enters and places a small bag in her pocket as she heads to the kitchen. Othello enters the living room for one last look. He comments on the volume of things that was in the apartment, with Billie responding, “Yeah. It’s hard to throw things away” (87). He tells her that his new house with Mona is “huge” (88), and that they will be getting married in three weeks. Billie tells him that she wants to return the handkerchief he gave her “…centuries ago” (88), which pleases Othello. She asks that he give her a couple of days to find it and clean it. He then says that he understands how hard things have been for Billie. He can come by to pick it up, and as he leaves, he asks her to say hello to her niece, Jenny. After he’s gone, Billie unwraps the package in her pocket to reveal a vial.