Dream on Monkey Mountain

At night, Makak, Tigre, and Souris are in their jail cells. Corporal Lestrade enters, waking them by banging a cup against a tin plate. He gives the prisoners their food while Souris explains that Makak has been muttering to himself and occasionally bursting into song. Souris feels sorry for Makak and asks that Lestrade let him go. Lestrade refuses: As an instrument of the law, he has “white man work to do” (279). Lestrade tries to feed Makak, who offers the Corporal money to for his release. Lestrade becomes incensed, accuses Makak of attempted bribery, and launches into an impassioned defense of the law. Makak replies that the law killed Moustique. Lestrade has no idea what Makak is talking about.  

While the Corporal fetches food, Tigre and Souris plot to steal Makak’s money. Tigre tries to convince that the true meaning of Makak’s dream is to kill Lestrade. Tigre appeals to Makak’s pride: No lion of Africa would allow himself to be caged. Makak produces a knife. Tigre tells Makak to pretend to be sick and then calls for Lestrade. When the Corporal approaches Makak’s cell, Makak stabs him and takes the keys. He frees Tigre and Souris, “near weeping with rage” (286). He leads them away while Lestrade sits up, assuring the audience that his wound is only minor. He announces that he will hunt down the prisoners but will give them a head start to make the hunt more exciting.  

Makak, Souris, and Tigre are in the forest. Makak knows the forest intimately so the other two ask him where to find food. Makak disappears into the forest, leaving Tigre and Souris to wonder whether he really has money. Makak returns with twigs, telling the men that they have returned home. Souris remembers that when he was young, he imagined God to be a “big white man I was afraid of” (290). From a young age, he was taught to love God and obey the white man. Makak tells them that he will take them to Africa; while Souris can almost envisage the faraway continent, Tigre is more cynical. Souris wanders into the forest while Makak makes Tigre look into the fire and reveal what he sees. Tigre sees hell, filled with burning people including himself. In Africa, Makak says, Tigre will find peace.  

When an animal squawks in the distance, Tigre admits that for the first time in his life he is scared. In Africa, Makak promises, Tigre will be a general. Souris enters with a dead chicken and vegetables while Makak slinks away, talking to himself. Tigre and Souris agree to eat before deciding what to do about Makak. As Makak sits down, Souris jokingly crowns him with vines. Makak demands that his armies be fed, pointing at nothing. When he hears someone approach, Makak stops shouting and leads Tigre and Souris into hiding.  

Lestrade enters, complaining about his wound. He sits down beside the fire, laughing and shouting at no one. Basil emerges from the bushes and sits beside him. He claims that he does not exist, that he is “a figment of the imagination, a banana of the mind” (297). Basil tells Lestrade that he has one minute to repent. When the Corporal asks what he needs to repent, Basil tells him that he already knows. Lestrade worries about his mind, which Basil claims never belonged to him. If this is true, then all of the events happening are real.  

Tigre and Souris watch, perplexed. They approach Lestrade and demand he confess his sins, while Basil, whom they cannot see, continues to count down the Corporal’s minute. When Basil reaches ten seconds, Lestrade relents. He admits that as a biracial person, “I hated half of myself, my eclipse” (299). He strips naked in the moonlight, claiming that he is now himself and that he now sees the glories of Makak and his race. Makak steps forward and accepts Lestrade as “one of us” (300). Whereas others reject half of Lestrade, Makak accepts all of him.  

While Makak comforts Lestrade, Tigre and Souris mock him, asking him how it feels to be black—to be the animal he had always accused them of being. Makak tells them to stop. Tigre picks up the Corporal’s gun and orders Souris to tie the other men up. Souris refuses. He now believes in Makak, who has taught him more in a few hours than Tigre has in years.  

Tigre still wants Makak’s money. Makak tries to reason with him, holding out his mask and explaining that he is a lonely, lost old man. Together, they are “shadows in the firelight of the white man’s mind” (304). As Basil waits, Makak tells Tigre to shoot—Makak has left death, failure, disappointment and despair in the wake of his dreams. Lestrade picks up a spear and the three men try to convince Tigre to come to his senses. As they circle around one another, Basil calls out to Tigre, who turns just long enough for Lestrade to stab him. They drag the body into the bush with Basil’s help and then exit the stage wearily. Lestrade stays behind a moment, claiming that he will now enforce the law on behalf of Makak.  

Amid the clamor of chants and drums, “a procession of warriors, chiefs, and the wives of Makak in splendid tribal costumes gathers” (308). The chorus sings that these are the conquests of Makak, who deserves praise for his accomplishments. The crowd carries Makak onto the stage atop a magnificent litter with Lestrade and Souris walking behind him. Lestrade calls for the crowd to praise Makak, who shrinks away, seeing himself as “only a shadow […] a hollow God. A phantom” (311). Lestrade delivers a speech about the law and justice, summoning the prisoners.  

Basil reads out the names of many of history’s most famous figures, all of whom are guilty of the crime of being “indubitably […] white” (312). As such, Basil says, they should be banished from memory. The tribes want the accused to be hanged and Basil agrees. Then, he reads a list of diplomatic ventures, including meetings with the Pope and the President of the United States. As Makak shakes his head, the tribes respond unanimously negatively to all of the suggestions.  

Next, Moustique is brought before the crowd and charged with having “betrayed our dream” (314). Moustique tries to catch Makak’s eye, but Makak looks away. Nothing Moustique says can prevent his execution. Makak insists that he will be different, that he will be incorruptible. Moustique disagrees, saying that Makak is mad, old, and blind before being taken away.  

The apparition of the white woman who appeared in Makak’s dream is brought before the court. Makak asks her why she has caused him so much pain. Lestrade insists that she has to die. As Lestrade hands Makak a sword, Makak continues to beseech the apparition for answers. The crowd leaves, so only Makak, Souris, Basil, Lestrade, and the apparition remain on stage. Makak talks to the apparition about a time he examined his reflection in a rain barrel. He felt overcome with loneliness, remembering a distant past when he was not a charcoal burner but a king. He felt Africa calling to him. Before Makak kills the apparition, he asks about her identity. Lestrade insists that she is “the wife of the devil, the white witch” (319). He warns that Makak will become humble if he does not execute the woman. Lestrade accuses her of being the confounder of blackness and admits that he has lusted after her also. Because Makak created her, Makak must kill her. Makak insists on privacy and, when the other characters exit, he removes his robe and beheads the woman. The stage goes black.  

Once again, Tigre, Souris, and Makak are in their prison cells. Corporal Lestrade enters the stage holding the mask, and asks Makak his name. Makak now replies that his name is Felix Hobain. Lestrade questions him while Tigre and Souris comment. Makak admits that he lives on Monkey Mountain and works as a charcoal burner. He is charged with “quarrelling, preaching in the market” (323), insulting the Inspector, and calling a man “an agent of death” (323). The Corporal hands Makak the mask while the other prisoners mock its likeness to a white woman. Lestrade releases Makak and tells him to return home.  

Moustique enters the jail, calling out for Felix Hobain. He begs Lestrade for forgiveness on behalf of his friend, who has lived alone too long and suffers from fits. Makak staggers to his feet and asks God to bless his fellow prisoners. He announces that he is going home. The Chorus takes up the chant as Makak and Moustique begin to walk back toward the mountain.