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Context
Charlie is an American journalist who has come to Zatembe to write about the conflict within the nation. He is residing at the Christian mission co-founded by Madame Neilsen and her husband. Dr Gotterling has worked there for several years. In this scene, Charlie attempts to convince Dr. Gotterling to join him for a moonlit walk but she refuses to risk walking in the jungle at night. Her words betray her underlying fear and prejudice against the Africans she cares for on a daily basis
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START: CHARLIE: “And it shall follow as the night the day--” Say, Dr Gotterling, you know this is the only place I’ve even been where the night really does follow the day. Whatever happened to your twilights here?
MARTA: (tongue in cheek) Well, Mr. Morris, I shall tell you. Since they serve no useful purpose at the Mission--we have eliminated them entirely!
[...]
END: MADAME: Torvald has been trampling around these villages for forty years, my dear. When he has done whatever he has to do, he will come home.
(A jeep slams to a stop offstage, followed by the rushed steps of men.)
CHARLIE: Now what--?
MADAME (cooly, dryly) It is the sound of the nerve ends of frightened men, Mr Morris.
Lorraine Hansberry. Les Blancs: The Collected Last Plays of Lorraine Hansberry. 1972.
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