Stephen Flaherty
The Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes
(Papa Ge cackles and vanishes offstage. Lights come up on Mama Euraile, holding one of the viewers and the frightened Little Girl.)

[STORYTELLER (MAMA), spoken]
Ti Moune had promised her soul, pledged her life for this pale mulatto boy. But, can you guess what's next?

[STORYTELLER 8 (ARMAND)]
The Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes (Buh-zome). A history lesson!

[STORYTELLER (MAMA), spoken]
The boy's name was Daniel Beauxhomme. A boy from another world
The first person. A person descended for the French!

[MEN]
Some say...
Some say...
Some say...
Some say...

[WOMEN]
Some say...
Some say...
Some say...
Some say...

[STORYTELLER]
Four generations past
In the time of Napoleon
There came to this island
A Frenchman, Armand
[All]
Armand!

[ARMAND]
Armand!

[STROYTELLER]
And he built a great fortune
And he built a grand mansion
And he wed a fine lady
So pale and so blonde

[MADAME ARMAND]
Armand!

[MADAME ARMAND]
But Armand took his pleasure
With the women who served him
Black peasant girls from
The village beyond

[TWO WOMEN]
Armand!

[STORYTELLER]
And the loveliest one
Bore the Frenchman a son
Such a fine peasant son
[ARMAND]
For Armand!

[WOMAN]
A beautiful child
The pale color of coffee mixed with cream

[ALL]
The beautiful one, the beautiful son Beauxhomme

[STORYTELLER]
They named him:

[ALL]
Beauxhomme
The beautiful one, the beautiful son
Beauxhomme

[STORYTELLER]
And the boy grew to be a man
And the great war began

[ALL]
Blacks fought against French
And the hated Napoleon
They fought for their island
And finally won
[Men (Not Armand)]
We Won!
We Won!
[BEAUXHOMME]
We Won!

[BEAUXHOMME]
And Armand sailed for France
By the seat of his pants
Driven out by his beautiful son!

[ALL]
The beautiful
One
The beautiful
Son
Beauxhomme, Beauxhomme

[BEAUXHOMME]
What was his is now mine!
The Beautiful
One
The beautiful
Son
Beauxhomme!

[BEAUXHOMME]
Beauxhomme!

[STORYTELLERS]
But Armand left behind a terrible, terrible curse
I curse my son

[ARMAND]
I curse my only son!

[STORYTELLERS]
I curse his sons

[ARMAND]
All of his sons!

[STORYTELLERS]
Generations

[ARAMAND]
All Beauxhomme yet unborn!

[STORYTELLERS]
In advance

[ARMAND]
Your black blood will keep you forever on this island...
While your hearts yearn forever for France!

[STORYTELLERS]
The unlucky one, the unlucky son
Beauxhomme, Beauxhomme
From bad blood to worse
The name of the curse:
Beauxhomme
The despise us for our blackness
It reminds them where they're from
The sad, sad tale
Of the Beauxhomme!
Beauxhomme!

[TI MOUNE]
Tonton, he needs me! Without me, he'll die!

[MAMA]
He will not want you, Ti Moune!

[TI MOUNE]
Please, Mama. Please Tonton
Give me your blessing and let me go. I will go to him!