The
action of the play takes place over the course of three years,
in and around the Ark family plantation house, in the present
day Gullah Islands off the coast of South Carolina.
ACT I:
Constantine Trip (a.k.a C-Trip), a young performance
artist, prepares to perform his new play in front of a small
group of family and friends. Meanwhile, Simon,
a local schoolteacher, tries to charm Mary Bow
— the daughter of Sammy and Paula Bow
— the overseers of the plantation. Mary rebuffs Simon’s
advances. Constantine talks to his Uncle Peter Nicholas
about his love for Hannah Jordan, a preacher’s
daughter who lives on the neighboring island. C-Trip fears that
his mother, the famous actress Josephine Nicholas Ark,
will hate his play; and he is intimidated by her younger boyfriend,
Robert Alexander Trigor, the famous writer.
Hannah arrives, nervous
about her acting debut. When Hannah reveals that she is excited
to meet Robert Alexander, C-Trip grows jealous.
Dr. Eugene
Dawn and his long-time mistress, Paula Bow, are on
their way to C-Trip’s play when Paula accuses the doctor
of being in love with Josephine, who has just arrived on the
island for a visit. As Eugene probes Paula to find out if Mary
is actually his daughter, Paula’s husband Sammy and the
others, arrive to see C-Trip’s play. The play begins,
and Josephine scoffs at her son’s artistic endeavor. C-Trip
runs off, humiliated, and the play is left unfinished.
Hannah makes a strong
impression on Robert Alexander. Josephine regrets taunting her
son and is caught up in the spiritual undertow of the islands.
Mary Bow confides in the doctor that she is secretly in love
with Constantine, and he consoles her.
ACT II:
The next morning. Josephine greets tourists, her adoring
fans. Sammy tells Josephine that she cannot take her car into
town as planned, and Josephine is furious. She threatens to
leave. Hannah finds herself confused by C-Trip’s strange
behavior and drawn toward Robert Alexander. Hannah and Robert
share an intimate exchange. When Josephine announces that she
has decided they won’t leave the island yet, she and C-Trip
catch Hannah and Robert Alexander laughing and flirting. In
despair, C- Trip attempts to commit suicide.
ACT III:
One week later. Josephine decides that she and Robert
Alexander are, in fact, leaving the island to go home. Jackie,
a maid in the plantation house and the spiritual anchor of the
community, begins to warn everyone that the island spirits are
in a state of upheaval. Frustrated by her unrequited love for
C-Trip, Mary accepts Simon’s marriage proposal. C-Trip
confronts his mother about her selfish behavior, and they argue.
Robert Alexander tries to end his romance with Josephine in
order to be with Hannah. As the car arrives to take them to
the ferry, everyone gathers to say goodbye. Robert Alexander
sneaks back into the house to have a private moment with Hannah.
She decides to make the move to New York and become an actress.
The two plan to meet up in New York and then share a kiss.
ACT IV:
Three years later. C-Trip has become an infamous writer,
living in the plantation house, writing in isolation. Mary and
Simon are unhappily married and have a child. Peter is dying,
and the doctor has asked Josephine and Robert Alexander to come
back to the island. We learn that Hannah has had a hard life
in New York and a troubled relationship with Robert Alexander.
C-Trip is haunted by his love for Hannah.
Josephine and Robert Alexander arrive at the house. Josephine
is still as harsh and disapproving as ever of her son’s
work. While everyone goes in to dinner, Hannah arrives at the
house, much changed by the last three years, and tells C-Trip
she loves Robert Alexander even more than before. She leaves,
and, with no hope left, C-Trip burns his writing, grabs his
gun and runs outside. When everyone returns from dinner, they
hear a gun shot.
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