Butchers place. Meat hanging around on meat hooks.
Butcher at his butchers block hacking away at a piece of meat. Hester sitting there watching.
Butcher
This is violent. I know. It must be upsetting to you after everything thats happened. Its an order for Hizzoner.
Hester
You delivering it?
Butcher
Hes picking it up himself. Its his day to rub shoulders with the people.
Hester
I dont want him to rub my shoulder.
Butcher
Stand over there when he comes. He wont notice you.
(Rest)
I was on my way over. I got some flowers for you back in the meat cooler. You should be in bed—
Hester
I need yr help.
Butcher
Ask away. Wait: here he comes.
As Hester steps into the shadows, the Mayor enters with his basket.
Butcher
Good to see you, sir.
Mayor
The local butcher at his chopping block. Hard honest worker. Thats what I like to see.
Butcher
Ive got yr order right here.
Mayor
Im passing out cigars. Have one.
Butcher
Thank you.
Mayor
My First Lady and I are expecting. A child.
Hester
(A child.)
Mayor
You heard right.
Hester
(A child!)
Mayor
Thats right. She begged me to keep it hush-hush but I cant help myself. I feel that its my duty to share the news.
Butcher
Congratulations.
Hester
(A child!)
My wife with child. That makes me a father.
Butcher
Congratulations.
Hester
(A child.)
Mayor
I want to weep.
Hester
((You will.))
Mayor
Whadyasay?
Butcher
Nothing.
(Rest)
Yr meat.
Mayor
Thank you. Until next week.
Butcher
Until next week.
Mayor leaves. Hester comes out of hiding.
Butcher
They finally got lucky.
Hester
Hester
Butcher
Hester?
Hester
Sweetheart.
I wish them luck.
Hester
So do I.
Butcher
After everything thats happened?
Hester
I wish them luck.
Butcher
Yr an angel.
Hester
I need yr help.
Butcher
Anything my angel wants. But first:
(Rest)
I earn a good living. And I still have my looks. There are a lot of women who wink at the Meat Man and I know what theyre thinking. Word is Im a catch.
He stands at his butcher block and sings “A Meat Man Is a Good Man to Marry”:
Butcher
A Meat Man is a good man to marry
The wife of a Meat Man dont worry
The children will never go hungry
Always plenty of meat in the tummy.
A Meat Man, his livestock are friendly
They go to the slaughter full knowing
He will kill them and carve them most kindly
In our stomachs theyll help us keep growing.
With me yr mate, everyday we’ll have steak
Gizzards, chittlins and chops
Pork, beef, mutton, yll be my only one
Pig tails and feet and snouts
We’ll kiss day in and out.
Make me yr ball and chain
We’ll dine on fried brain.
And what could ever beat a honey-dear
Who can make a silk purse from a sow’s ear?
The wife of a Meat Man is happy
All her days are so sunny and easy.
All her nights full of hot heavy breathing
And love
Cause a Meat Mans the best man to marry.
Butcher
Hester
He leaves his butcher block and comes over to her.
Butcher
Marry me.
Hester
I need yr help. With the First Lady.
(Rest)
I wanna talk to her is all.
Butcher
And you want me to help you think of what to say.
Hester
Shes shy about being seen with me. Her position, you know and everything thats happened. She wants to come to my house but dont want no one to know.
(Rest)
I need you to drive your truck. Tonight. Say some of the order was forgotten and yr delivering it. Canary will be waiting there with her. The First Lady aint been feeling well as of late so she may be—foggy, but dont let that stop you.
Dont let nothing stop you. She wants to talk tonight. Shes real insistent. And she dont want no one knowing. Bring her to me, let us talk then take her home again thats all.
Butcher
Whatll you talk about?
Hester
Just chitchat. Woman to woman stuff. I have a feeling she wants to apologize. Maybe even give me some sort of—payment for my hardships. Go get her around 11. Itll be dark. No onell see. Then take her home around midnight.
(Rest)
We need to have a talk, her and me, thats all, just a talk, woman to woman, her and me. Yll help?
Butcher
Sure.
(Rest)
Then we’ll get married.
Hester
Then we’ll get married.
He tries to hug her. She gently pulls away.
Hester
Mmnot ready for touching yet. I need to go home.
Butcher
I’ll walk you.
Hester
No thanks.
(Rest)
After me and her talk. We can be together then.
He tries to kiss her cheek. She goes. He goes back to his chopping block but just stands there.