A Raisin in the Sun Page #4

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you can't persuade...

...to take a larger view of life,

it's a woman.

That's why I say

it's time to break out.

What do you say?

It's a deal.

- Where did Ruth go?

- To the doctor, I think.

The doctor? What for?

- You don't think she's...

- I ain't saying.

But I ain't never been wrong

about a woman neither.

Howdy-do to you too.

I'm sorry. Housecleaning

and all that.

Mama hates me having guests

when the house looks like this.

That's right.

You have?

That's different.

What the heck.

You just come right over.

Right. I'll see you

in a little while.

Who you inviting here

with this house looking like this?

You ain't got no pride!

Asagai doesn't care how houses look.

He's an intellectual.

- Who?

- Asagai.

Joseph Asagai.

He's an African boy I met on campus.

What's his name?

Asagai.

Joseph Ah-sa-guy.

He's from Nigeria.

That's that little country

that was founded by slaves way back...

That's Liberia.

I don't think I never seen

no African before.

Then you just do me a favour.

Don't ask him ignorant questions

about Africans.

"Do they wear clothes?"

And all that stuff.

Well, now.

If you think we're so ignorant...

...maybe you shouldn't bring

your friends here.

It's just that people ask

such crazy things.

All anyone seems to know

about Africa is Tarzan.

Why should I know anything

about Africa?

Why do you give money

for missionary work?

That's to help save folks.

- Save them from heathenism.

- That's right.

They need more salvation

from the foreigners on their lands.

I guess from your faces,

everybody knows.

You pregnant!

Lord, I hope it's a girl!

Travis ought to have a sister.

How far along are you?

Two months.

Did you mean to?

I mean, did you plan this

or was it an accident?

What do you know about

planning and not planning?

- She's 20 years old.

- I mean it. Did you plan it?

Mind your own business!

It is my business! Where's he

going to sleep, on the roof?

I didn't mean that.

I don't feel like that at all.

I think it's wonderful.

- Wonderful.

- Really, I do.

Did the doctor say

everything'll be all right?

She said everything will be fine.

Good.

She?

What doctor you went to?

Don't you feel well?

- Baby!

- What's the matter with her?

Come on now. She'll be all right.

Women gets depressed when

they get her way.

Just relax now. That's it, baby.

Don't think about nothing now.

- Come on.

- Oh, my God! That must be Asagai!

You lie down and rest awhile.

Then we'll have some nice hot food.

Come on, baby.

Hello, Alaiyo.

Hello.

Come on in.

And please excuse everything.

My mother was upset at

my having anyone come here...

...with the house looking like this.

You seem disturbed too.

Is there something wrong?

We've all got acute ghetto-itis.

I see.

So sit down.

What'd you bring me?

Open it and see.

You got it for me!

It's beautiful!

And the records too!

Of course.

Thank you very much.

I'll put it on.

I shall have to teach you how

to drape it properly.

You take it like so.

Like so.

And you drape it around here.

Under.

Now turn.

That's enough.

Tuck it here.

You wear it well, very well.

You really think so?

Do you remember

when I met you at school?

You came up to me and you said...

You were the most

serious thing I'd seen.

You said, " Mr. Asagai...

...I should like very much to talk

with you about Africa.

You see, Mr. Asagai,

I am looking for my identity!"

It's true this isn't so much

the profile of a Hollywood Queen...

...as, say, the Queen of the Nile.

What does it matter?

Assimilationism is so popular

in your country.

I am not an assimilationist!

Such a serious one.

So you like the robes?

You must take excellent care of them.

They're from my sister's

personal wardrobe.

You sent all the way home for me.

For you...

...l'd do much more.

That's what I came for. I must go.

Will you call me Monday?

Of course. We have a great deal

to talk about, you and I.

I mean, about identity and all that.

And time.

Time?

How much time one needs

to know what one feels.

You see?

You never understood.

More than one feeling...

...can exist between a man and a woman.

At least there should be.

Between a man and woman,

there need be only one kind of feeling.

And I have that for you.

- Now even, right this moment.

- I know, and it won't do.

- I can find that anyplace.

- It should be enough.

Because that's what it says

in all the novels that men write.

But it isn't.

Go ahead and laugh,

but I'm not interested in being...

...someone's little episode in America.

Or one of them.

It's real funny, huh?

It's just that every American woman

I have ever met...

...has always said that to me.

In this, you are all the same.

- And the same speech too.

- Yuk, yuk, yuk.

It's how you can tell that

the world's most liberated woman...

...isn't liberated at all.

You all talk about it too much.

It's my mother.

This is Mr. Asagai.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

Please forgive me for coming at

such an outrageous hour on a Saturday.

That's quite all right.

I hope you understand our house

don't always look like this.

- Of course.

- You must come again.

I'd love to hear

all about your country.

I think it's so sad

the way our American Negroes...

...don't know nothing about Africa

except Tarzan.

And all that money

they pour into churches...

...when they ought to help

you drive out...

...them foreigners that

took your land.

Why, yes, of course.

How many miles is it

from here to where you come from?

Many thousands.

Bet you don't take care of yourself...

...being away from your mama so far.

You'd better come here

from time to time...

...and get yourself

some home-cooked meals.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

I really must be going.

I'll call you Monday, Alaiyo.

What's that he called you?

Alaiyo. I hope you don't mind.

It's what you would call

a nickname, I think.

It's a Yoruba word.

- I'm Yoruba.

- I thought he come from...

Nigeria is my country.

Yoruba is my tribal origin.

You never did tell us

what Alaiyo means.

You might be calling me

"Little Idiot."

Let me see. I don't know

if I can explain it.

A thing's sense is sometimes different

when it changes languages.

- You're evading.

- Really, it's quite difficult. It means...

It means "One for whom bread...

...food...

...is not enough."

Is that all right?

Thank you.

That's nice.

You must come again, Mr...

Asagai.

Ah-sa-guy.

Well, do come again.

Call me.

That sure was a pretty thing

that just walked out of here.

I see how come we so interested

in Africa all of a sudden.

Missionaries.

You cracking up?

You shut up!

She's resting now.

Mailman must be late, Grandma.

I'm tired of waiting.

It'll be all right, honey.

He'll ring that bell soon,

like he's done...

...every day for

the last umpteen years.

Where're you going?

To become a Queen of the Nile.

Who said to get up?

Ain't nothing wrong with me to be

laying in no bed for.

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