A Free Man of Color Read Online Free PDF Page B

This is the Age of Enlightenment. ( Jacques Cornet bows and returns to bed with Doña Smeralda .) Ouch! ( He holds up a black tube with a red ribbon on it ) Is this the cipher machine? This is it! Give it to him!
    DOÑA SMERALDA Careful!
    MORALES Did you say something, Moon of Magnificence?
    DOÑA SMERALDA ( calling )Darlingest, Delight of My Dreams? I think I found it.
    MORALES The cipher machine? Let me come in!
    DOÑA SMERALDA Don’t let him see you.
    Jacques opens the door a crack, passes the code breaker out to Morales who kisses Jacques’ hand, then slams the door.
    MORALES I will now decipher the cryptogram. The code is “Mississippi”.
    Morales uses the chart of the code breaker as Pincepoussse prepares to take dictation. Letters of the alphabet appear overhead. Then letters beneath the alphabet spell out M.I.S.P., which take the first four slots. M is under A. I is under B. S is under C. P under D. M.I.S.P. becomes the first four letters of the alphabet. The coded alphabet continues. A is E. B is F.
    DR. T At the same time, in Washington D.C., spies in France have delivered the same secret message to Mr. Jefferson.
    Jefferson enters followed by Meriwether who carries the cipher breaker.
    JEFFERSON The key is “Artichoke”.
    MORALES So A is M.
    PINCEPOUSSE B is I.
    MORALES C is S.
    MERIWETHER A is F.
    R is A.
    JEFFERSON C is E.
    MORALES D is P.
    PINCEPOUSSE V is R.
    JACQUES CORNET Can you see what they’re doing?
    JEFFERSON L is A.
    MERIWETHER P is N.
    The letters overhead spin madly until they form a message. “Spain has given Louisiana to France”.
    DR. T ( to us )But you knew that already.
    JACQUES CORNET What does it say! I can’t see it!
    MORALES The floor of the world trembles beneath my feet.
    DOÑA POLISSENA Good news?
    CREUX Good news died with the invention of the wheel.
    PINCEPOUSSE I’m having a delusion. I thought you said Spain has given Louisiana to a country now ruled by a Corsican dwarf!
    JACQUES CORNET Did he say Spain has given all of Louisiana to France?
    JACQUES CORNET Go out there! Learn what’s in that letter!
    DOÑA SMERALDA He’ll be suspicious. I’m not interested in anything.
    JEFFERSON Whatever power other than ourselves holds the country west of the Mississippi becomes our natural enemy. This is an act of war!
    Jefferson exits, followed by Meriwether.
    MORALES I shall not be discarded like the skin of a mango! Yes! That day is here!
    JACQUES CORNET What day is here?
    MORALES ( whisper )Our plan.
    PINCEPOUSSE ( whisper )What plan?
    JACQUES CORNET What are they saying?
    MORALES ( whisper )The plan we had talked about pursuing one day.
    PINCEPOUSSE ( whisper )Which plan?
    JACQUES CORNET I cannot be excluded!
    MORALES ( smacking Pincepousse )You dunce! Our plan requires money!
    Margery appears, dressed as a boy.
    MARGERY Are we going to the ball?
    PINCEPOUSSE Napoleon will want Margery! Napoleon will not have you!
    Pincepousse drags Margery off.
    MORALES I have no money. Do you?
    CREUX I have no money!
    Pincepousse returns.
    PINCEPOUSSE I have no money.
    MORALES Only Jacques Cornet has money.
    CREUX Finally to meet a good man. Is he on our side?
    PINCEPOUSSE He is a lecher! I loathe him! And there’s one other thing—
    Jacques Cornet, now dressed, appears at the side of the stage, Murmur at his side.
    JACQUES CORNET Only one?
    MORALES ( to Pincepousse )Do not reveal Jacques’ racial background to this lunatic until we have Jacques’ money. . . . My dear cousin M. Pincepousse and I must attend to the power of my office. Prepare for the ball! I see you in a toga! The two of you will shine tonight!
    Creux and Doña Polissena go.
    MORALES Come with me to the Cabildo !
    DR. T City Hall.
    MORALES And give Cornet no suspicion of needing money for revolution. He’ll attempt to intrude.
    PINCEPOUSSE How will we get money out of him?
    JACQUES CORNET Yes. How will you?
    MORALES What is Jacques’ weak point?
    JACQUES CORNET Fashion!
    MORALES Maps! We will create a new map to sell to