Green Pastures Page #6

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Enjoy yourselves.

Yes, indeed, Lawd.

Yes, sir, Lawd.

I'm coming down there, Moses.

And this time, my scheme's got to work.

That's funny.

Sun seem to be shining every place

but right here.

- Why ain't there no clouds up there?

- 'Cause I want it to be like that, Moses.

- Who's that?

- It's De Lawd, Moses.

That's what you say.

This here shadow may be De Lawd's work.

But that voice sound pretty much to me

like a little echo or something.

Then keep your eyes open, son.

Maybe you notice

the bush ain't burned up.

That's the truth.

Now do you believe?

Yes, sir, Lawd. It's wonderful.

No it ain't, Moses. It's just a trick.

Excuse me for doubting you, Lawd.

I always had the feeling

you was taking care of me...

but I never suspected you'd find the time

to talk with me personally.

That was a good trick, Lawd.

I've seen some good ones,

but that was the beatenest.

You gonna see

lots bigger tricks than that, Moses.

- In fact, you gonna perform them.

- Me, I is gonna be a tricker?

- Yes.

- And do magic?

Lawd, my mouth ain't got the quick talk

that goes with it.

It'll come to you now.

Is I going with a circus?

You's going down to Egypt, Moses,

and lead my people out of bondage.

And to do that I'm gonna make you

the best tricker in the world.

Egypt? You know I killed a man

down there, Lawd. Won't they kill me?

Not when they see your tricks.

You ain't scared, is you?

- No, sir, Lawd.

- Then here's what I'm gonna do.

I'm sick and tired

of the way Old King Pharaoh's...

treating my children, Moses,

and you're gonna lead them away.

You're gonna lead them out of Egypt

and across the river of Jordan.

And it's gonna take a long time.

And you ain't going on no excursion train.

You're gonna work awfully hard

for something you's gonna find...

when the trip is over.

- What's that, Lawd?

- The land of Canaan.

- Of course, Old Pharaoh, he'll say no.

- Not when he sees your tricks.

- They tell me he's awfully fond of tricks.

- I hear that's all he's fond of.

They say if you can't take a rabbit

out of a hat...

you can't even get in to see him.

Wait till he see the trick

you and me is gonna show him.

- Doggone, huh, Lawd?

- Yes, sir.

- Now the first trick...

- Just a minute, Lawd.

Now I'm gonna do

just what you want me to.

I know it's gonna take a little time

to learn all that quick talking.

Can't my brother, Aaron, go with me?

He's a good man.

He is gonna help you with the Exodus.

I guess he can watch, too.

- I'll call him.

- Wait. I'll bring him.

Aaron.

It's all right.

Don't worry, son.

I'm just trying some tricks.

And bringing you here was one of them.

Now then, you see this here cane?

It looks just like

an ordinary walking stick, don't it?

Yes, sir, Lawd.

Well, it ain't no ordinary walking stick.

'Cause look what happens

when I lays it on the ground.

Old King Pharaoh sits on his throne.

We opens the meeting with the reports

from my confidential magician.

- Good morning, Professor.

- Good morning.

How's the killing of the babies

amongst the Hebrews coming along?

Just like you ordered.

We killed about 1000 last night.

- That's pretty good.

- That's fair.

But I find I ain't satisfied, though.

There ain't nothing meaner

than killing the babies, King.

There must be something.

Put your brains on it.

I tell you what I can do.

All of the Hebrews

that ain't in the burying grounds...

- is laboring over in the brickworks.

- Yeah.

How would it be to take the straw

away from them and tell them...

they got to turn out just as many bricks

as usual. Ain't that nasty?

Well, that's pretty trifling.

But go try it for the time being.

Wait a minute.

If any of them say

they can't make the bricks that way...

chop off their hands.

Now we's getting somewhere.

- Any newcomers today?

- Just these two country boys.

Well, what you boys got to demonstrate?

We've got a wonderful walking stick,

Old King Pharaoh.

- What does it do?

- You can see for yourself.

- It's a snake!

- Look at it squirm.

He's the devil's baby.

That is a good trick.

Now turn it back

into a walking stick again.

- They sure is trickers.

- What do you think of that?

That's all right, all right.

It made the round trip.

- What do you know?

- Well, knock me down.

You is good trickers.

How come you ain't never showed up

at the palace before now?

We just come to town, Old King Pharaoh.

What's your name?

Mine is Moses, this is my brother, Aaron.

Hebrews.

They's Hebrews.

- Is you Hebrews?

- Yes, sir.

Put them to the sword.

You can't get in that circle.

- Did you feel that?

- What was that?

- He couldn't hit him.

- My hands are stinging.

- What's the idea here?

- We is magicians, Old King Pharaoh.

Well, we've got some here, too.

Where is the Head Tricker

of the Land of Egypt?

I is here.

Now we'll see who's got the best magic.

Come on. Give these boys the gri-gri.

No, he won't.

Well, will you look at that?

What's the matter?

They're laughing at you.

Something got in the way of the spell.

You mean they got even you beat?

They have got a new kind of magic.

It got electricity in it.

Well, that may make a little difference.

You boys is okay.

I suppose you know

that I's a fool for conjuring.

And if a man show me a trick

I ain't never seen before...

I goes out of my way to do him a favor.

- Any favor?

- Name your fancy.

- Let the Hebrew children go.

- Listen to him!

What did you say?

Let the Hebrew children go.

- That's the limit.

- Insulting the King!

Don't you know

that the Hebrews is my slaves?

I hate children.

All week I've been killing the babies.

Ain't been five minutes ago since

I gave orders to chop off their hands...

if they can't make bricks without straw.

Let me see some more of your tricks.

I got one more trick up my sleeve

that I didn't aim to work unless I has to.

'Cause when I does this one,

I can't undo it.

Work it, and I'll trick you right back.

You about the best tricker

I ever seen, Moses...

but I can out-trick you any time of the day.

It ain't only me going to work this trick,

but me and De Lawd.

- Who?

- De Lawd, God of Israel.

I can out-trick you and De Lawd, too.

Now you's done it, Old King Pharaoh.

You's been mean to De Lawd's people,

and he's been easy on you...

in case you didn't know no better.

You been giving me a lot of say-so

and no do-so.

And I didn't mind that.

But now you got to bragging

about you's better than De Lawd...

and that's too many!

He talks like a preacher,

and I ain't never liked no preachers.

You ain't going to like it no better...

when I strikes down the oldest boy

in every one of your people's houses!

Listen, I is Pharaoh.

I do the striking down here.

I strikes down my enemy.

Ain't no one in all Egypt

can kill who they wants to, except me.

No, Pharaoh, let them go.

You heard my word!

Now, no more tricks, or I'll...

Lawd, you'll have to do it, I guess.

Aaron, lift that rod!

He did it.

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