INTERIOR – PARIS – NIGHT — 1956
In their Paris apartment, Cal is dressing for the evening, tying his tie in the mirror. Dessi sits on their bed wearing only a slip and stockings, hair and makeup done, a sequined evening gown laid out on the bed beside her. She’s reading a letter, and a diamond wedding ring glints on her ring finger. A young girl rushes into the room and crawls into Dessi’s lap.
DESSI (STROKING HER DAUGHTER’S HAIR)
Hey, kitty-cat. Shouldn’t you be in bed?
DESSI
The band’s playing at Le Caveau de la Huchette. Go drink your water and then bed, you hear me, little girl? We’ll be home when you wake up in the morning.
KATHERINE
Oui, Maman.
DESSI (PATS HER BOTTOM)
Tell Papa goodnight and go to bed.
Katherine walks over to Cal at the mirror and he scoops her up, tickling her and making her laugh. A plump, dark-haired woman comes to the door.
Cal kisses Katherine’s hair and sets her on the floor.
KAHTERINE
Bon soir.
Madame Charbonnet and Katherine leave the room. Dessi picks the letter up again and starts to read.
Dessi lays the letter on the bed, but doesn’t move to put her dress on.
DESSI
Mama’s sick, Cal.
Cal pauses in pomading his hair.
DESSI
The letter is from my Cousin Dorothy. It’s cancer. Mama wasn’t gonna tell me.
Cal walks over to sit beside her on the bed and picks up the letter.
DESSI (HESITANTLY)
What would you say if I said I want to go home?
He gestures around the beautifully appointed bedroom.
DESSI
Cal, I’ve barely seen my mama at all for the last fifteen years, and now she’s sick. She needs me.
CAL
Ain’t nothing in the States for us, Dess. Sidney Bechet is here in France with the world at his feet. One of the greatest to ever pick up a horn, and you know what he was doing in America before he came here? He was a tailor. Last time Josephine Baker went home, the Stork Club wouldn’t even serve her. The toast of Paris. One of the most famous women in the world refused service in her home country. Why would we go back?
Dessi stands up and puts on the dress as they continue the discussion.
DESSI
We could just go until she gets better or . . . until she . . .
Dessi sniffs and wipes away a tear. Cal walks over and takes her in his arms.
CAL
Don’t cry, baby. You know I can’t deny you a thing when you cry.
DESSI (SMILING TEARFULLY)
I’m counting on it.
DESSI
Of course, we do. When we left Harlem, I couldn’t have even dreamed half the stuff we’ve done. The places we been. But I miss my family. When your people need you, you go.
I know we have our music, but is it really home if you don’t have the people you love?
DESSI
You and Katherine are my whole world. You know that, but we can’t just hide here when people we love are suffering. In her last letter, Mama told me all about the Montgomery bus boycott, but didn’t even mention that she was sick.
DESSI (SMILING WRYLY)
Or in Rosa Parks’ case, sitting down.
DESSI
That would be so good, Cal. Who knows how we could help while we’re there?
Cal turns and holds Dessi, kissing her cheek.
DESSI
That’s all I ask.
CAL (CHUCKLING)
All you ask my foot. You always asking for the world, Odessa.