LANGSTON HUGHES is dressed in a 1920’s suit and sits on a suitcase or perhaps a park bench downstage. The actor portraying CHARACTER TWO wears their own, ordinary clothing. CHARACTER TWO stands center stage bathed in the lights of New York City at night.

LANGSTON HUGHES
I could take the Harlem night
And wrap around you,

CHARACTER TWO
They stood by the subway station.
I could feel the tension around them building

LANGSTON HUGHES
Take the neon lights and make a crown,
Take the Lenox Avenue busses,
Taxis, subways,
And for your love song tone their rumble down

CHARACTER TWO
I smiled because I saw myself
“I don’t usually do this trust me . . .”
I went inside the coffee shop seeking purpose
A reason
To watch their interaction a little while longer
They talked
Arms wrapped around themselves that feelings that they weren’t yet ready to address didn’t attach themselves to an unwitting host

LANGSTON HUGHES
Take Harlem’s heartbeat,
Make a drumbeat,

CHARACTER TWO
They smiled at each other
Not with their mouths but with their eyes
With hope
They hugged about six times

LANGSTON HUGHES
Put it on a record, let whirl,
And while we listen to it play,

CHARACTER TWO
And I could not tear my eyes away
I fell in love with the idea of us as I watched them
Hoping one day you might smile at me with your eyes
At subway stations as I bite my tongue
Unwilling to part lips
Part ways

LANGSTON HUGHES
Dance with you till day—
Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl