Nellie’s Healin’

For Nellie Mae Rowe

Nellie enters the stage from the front of her playhouse. She tinkers with her dolls, collectables and art before ploppin' down on the yellow flowered chair. She sings.

Nellie Mae

Empty me right now, my Lord. Empty me right now.

Nellie looks at Mama's photo on the small table beside the chair. PROJECTION: Nellies Mama Photo. Nellie rolls out a long brown paper on the floor and sits on a pile of pillows in front of it and draws.

Nellie Mae

Mama, I'm drawin' a healin' I'm drawin a healin' a healin' a healin'. I was drawin a healin' til the fields called my name

Nellie sings and draws

Pick, Chop, Haul, Pick, Chop, Haul

A voiceover

Draw Nellie Draw. Play Nellie Play

Nellie Mae

work and carry all day all day. work and carry all day long.

Another voiceover

Chew Nellie Chew, Chew Nellie Chew

Nellie stuffs a wad of gum in her mouth. She chews and takes it out to make round balls.

Nellie Mae

Mama had ten seeds to grow. In all her washdays, don't think she slept-been workin' straight out the womb.

Nellie makes more gum-balls until there's ten. PROJECTION: Empty Chair artwork. Nellie picks up the art. Red Woman enters.

Red Woman

What kind of livins' dat? betta views...in the end.

Red Woman stares off as she does in the artwork. Nellie draws and hums. PROJECTION: Judith Wearing a Party Dress artwork. Judith enters the stage.

Judith

Party with meeeeee, Nellie babeeee.

Judith twirls.

Ignore the tombstone. The universe is not ready for you just yet. Dance Darling.

Judith laughs. Nellie draws, chews and hums. PROJECTION: Picking Cotton artwork. Woman In Orange enters

WOMAN IN ORANGE

Won't be long. suns up. suns down. Won't be too long

Nellie draws faster

Nellie Mae

I'm drawin a healin' a healin' I'm drawin' a healin'

PROJECTION: Something That Ain't Been Born Yet artwork. Animal on bedspread enters.

Animal on Bedspread

I’ve been here Ms. Nellie. On top every night, swirlin' between paisely and polkdots. and in your dreams.

Nellie chews and draws frantically. PROJECTION: Fish artwork. Fish enters.

Fish

Sorry deary. Glub. Your rose never bloomeDDD this spring...or the next. Glub.

Fish sighs

Nellie stares at the drawing. PROJECTION: Nellie's Mama. Nellie's Mama enters wearing a sorrel crown. She takes the quilt from the chair and puts it around Nellie.

Mama

Go on Nellie. Place your healin' on the wall.

copyright 2025 Seshat Yon’shea Walker