Summary

“Lights fade up on a modern bedroom somewhere in the bowels of the MacGregor Plantation” (143). The music that ended the previous scene continues as “the evening light of Virginia dances through the window and onto the bed where Kaneisha is lying in between two opened suitcases with clothes spilling in and out of them” (143). There is a knock on the door. Kaneisha says “Yes?” (143) without moving. The door opens and Jim asks whether he can come in. After a hesitation, Kaneisha says he can do what he wants. Jim comes in, notes the luggage, and sits in a chair next to the bed. Kaneisha asks what he wants. He is silent. She asks again. He says he is there to just listen.

Kaneisha starts packing. Jim says he thought that was what they were there to do, learn “to listen to each...