♪ [blues music] (Jean Brown Pinkston) The southeastern coast of the United States has long been known for its warm climates, beautiful beaches, and antebellum culture.

It should also be known for another treasure... the Gullah language.

Gullah is an English-derived Atlantic-Creole language.

It is still spoken by the descendants of Africans brought to the New World during the slave trade.

Gullah can still be heard here in Charleston, South Carolina, the midpoint of an area known to dialect geographers as the Gullah Area, the coastal region and Sea Islands between Jacksonville, Florida, and Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Gullah sounds like English, but with a definite West African flavor in its intonation and stress, and it is rich in idiomatic expressions.

Unfortunately, Gullah was only spoken, never written, and this unique gift is in danger of being lost altogether, which brings us to "Porgy: A Gullah Version."

The original novel entitled "Porgy" was authored by DuBose Heyward, a native Charlestonian, in 1924.

He and his wife, Dorothy, worked together to write a version for the stage the following year.

At its height, "Porgy and Bess," an operatic version of the play by George Gershwin, was popular on Broadway.

In 1990, another Charlestonian, Vi rginia Mixson Geraty, authored a true Gullah translation of the play.

The language you will hear spoken by the cast is that which would actually have been spoken by Porgy, Bess, and other African Americans during the time the play was set.

"Porgy: A Gullah Version" takes place on Cabbage Row, a gated courtyard on Church Street in Charleston in 1927.

These courtyard communities were common in that day and fostered a close, extended-family relationship amongst its residents.

♪ [blues music] ♪ [Porgy laughing] Mawnin'!

[laughing] Hey!

Awright, Jake, Mingo!

I hab enuf de buckruh money, 'en ennybody kin hab 'um wuh able fuh tek'um f'um Porgy.

[men laughing] Soon-man, soon-man, give me a pint, 'en mek'um dam' quick!

[indistinct chatter in background] Pay 'um, Bess.

[indistinct chatter in background] (male) Co me on now, gi ve it back yuh.

[indistinct chatter in background] (male) Let's go, let's go... two dolluh!

Hab one fuh de Gawd-fayr'n' lady.

Dey ent nutt'n' else lukkuh dem, t'engk Gawd!

Hey!

[silence] I duh talk tuh oonuh mens!

[silence] Ennybody gwi' mek ansuh?

Awright, men, ante in, ante in.

[men laughing] Aw, man!

Kibbuhr'um, bubbuh!

I see if I kin break me luck!

'E lady ent 'low' um but fufty cent... he can't tek no chance!

[men laughing] Never min', Honey-boy, I kin stake you when you four bit done gone.

Go ahead 'en play.

You ent need no he'p f'um no she-debble.

(male) Wo oooo, woo!

Awright, men, ante in.

Ole man seb'n, come down f'um Heb'n!

Seb'n.

I ent seen no seb'n.

What did I throw?

(male) Seb'n, jis' like you said!

More than one nigguh done meet 'e Gawd for pull 'um in 'fo' I read 'um.

En' I sesso agen tonight.

[rhythmic clapping] (male) Crazy nine!

Tetch dat money, en' you meet ye Gawd.

Take yo' hand off me, low-down houn'!

Jake, throw me the brick!

Yuh!

Ahhh!

(male) No , Crown, no!

[wailing] Mek'ace en' light out.

You done killed Robbin, en' de poleece gwi' come, fuh sho'!

Weh you gwi' hide?

Everybody know we pull tuhgedduh!

Dey ent gwi' look fuh me yet.

I gwi' stay right yuh... somebody tek cyah ub Bess.

Dat somebody, he ent for good.

I gwi' come back fuh you.

[crying] No...no.

Berrywellden... tek dis en' mek'ace.

Go...go.

Oh, Gawd.

(Bess) Dat you, Sportin' Life?

Fuh Gawd sake, fuh Gawd sake... gimme uh leetle tetch uh happy dus'.

I shake so, I 'kin haa'dly stand.

I can't pay for it-- I done give all de money tuh Crown-- but for Gawd sake, just gimme a leetle tetch!

(Sporting Life) Yo u ent haffuh pay for.

I ent gwi' 'bandun you like dese odduh no'count people 'roun' yuh.

[inhales sharply] Liss'n...I gwine tuh New Yawk soon.

Come 'long wid me.

Wid you looks and me fr'en' dey dey, us have likkuh, dus', paa'ty, en't'ing eb'ry night till dayclean!

Ent nobody 'roun' yuh gwi' tek een Crown 'ooman.

You bes' come 'long wid you one fr'en'.

I ent come tuh dat yet!

[laughs scornfully] Berrywell den... the poleece ent gwi' fin' me 'roun' yuh!

[laughs scornfully] [laughs scornfully] [slams against door] Go away...you done cause 'nuffuh trubble!

Git out 'fo' de patrol git yuh!

You can't hab mussy on me?

Hell kin freeze fus'!

Who dat lib' obuh yanduh?

Ent no use fuh you look over yanduh.

Porgy live dey, and he cripple.

[crying] No .

[door slams] ♪ [blues guitar music] [drumroll] ♪ (several singers) ♪ ...sweet chariot.

♪ ♪ Comin' for tuh carry me home.

♪ ♪ Swing low, sweet chariot.

♪ ♪ Comin' for tuh carry me home.

♪♪ [humming to rhythm of song] How de saucuh stan', Sistuh?

[humming] Fo'teen dolluh en' t'irty-six cent.

'E com'n' 'long, Sistuh... you kin bury'um soon.

De Boa'd ub He'lt' say I haffuh bury'um tuhmorruh.

'E cos' t'irty-fo dollar fuh bury me gramma, but us hab t'ree cyaaridge.

Wuh I gwi' do ef I ent hab de money?

Gawd hab 'nuf money fuh de saucuh.

'En He gwi' saa'f' dese people haa't fuh full de saucuh 'tell 'e run obuh!

(female) Amen, Jedus!

(female 2) Amen!

Dere Porgy duh come.

I go fuh he'p him.

'E hab he'p... Bess he'p 'um.

Wuffah Bess duh come yuh?

W'ymekso you bring dat 'ooman yuh?

'E wan' he'p sing.

Ent no good 'out de shout.

I ent need you money fuh bury me man en' ent wan' no money f' um de man wuh kill'um!

Dat ent Crown money.

I gib' Bess money tuh put een de saucuh.

Berrywellden, you kin pit'um een.

Bess, you kin go obuh dere and sit in de corner if you wantuh.

'Cep'n' you can't sing.

You yeddy me?

You can't sing!

(Porgy) Nemmin'... Bess ent wan' sing nohow!

(several singers) ♪ Swing low, sweet chariot.

♪♪ [knock at door] Aha!

Saucer burial, I see.

You the widow?

Yaas, suh.

He didn't leave you any burial insurance?

No, suh, boss... he ent left nutt'n'.

Well, see to it that he's buried tomorrow!

(detective) You...you killed Robbin, and I'm going to hang you for it!

(female) He didn't do'um!

Sway...sway...swaytogawd, boss, I ent do'um.

Well, who did it then?

You heard me!

Who did it?

Crown do'um!

I shum!

Crown do'um!

You sure you saw him?

I swaytogawd, Boss...

I be right dey nex' tuhr'um.

[whimpering] He saw the killing.

Take him along and lock him up as a material witness.

(policeman) Come along, uncle.

[women crying and sobbing] I sure can't figguh dis t'ing out.

Now, now, Petuh iz a good man.

Crown ramify 'roun' and kill Robbin!

Now Petuh lock up like a t'ief, en' Robbin done dead, en' 'e wife and chillun bidout dem farruh.

And Crown, he done git 'way and gwi' do de same t'ing 'gen!

[knock at door] [women crying and sobbing] [women crying and sobbing] How de saucuh stan' dey, Sistuh?

Dey ent but fifteen dolluh dey dey.

Sistuh, can't bury a grown man for fifteen dolluh.

He haffuh bury tuhmorruh, eeduhso de Boa'd ub Hel't' give him tuh de stoodun'.

[hysterical] Fuh Gawd sake, bury'um in the grabeyaa'd!

I goin' tuh work Monday!

I swaytogawd I gwi' tuh pay you eb'ry cent!!

Oh, Gawd!!!

Berrywell, berrywell... berrywell, berrywell... berrywell, berrywell.

Wid de box en' one cyaaridge, 'e gwi' cos' me more than 25, but I'll see you shr'u'.

Berrywell, berrywell.

Y'all can be ready early tuhmorruh mawnin'?

(several) Yaas, suh.

[women crying] 'E uh long way tuh de grabeyaa'd.

[women crying and sobbing] ♪ Oh, I hab uh leetle bredduh een de new grabeyaa'd ♪ ♪ wuh outshine de sun... ♪ (others join singing) ♪ outshine de sun... ♪ ♪ outshine de sun.

♪ ♪ Oh, I hab uh leetle bredduh een de new grabeyaa'd ♪ ♪ wuh outshine de sun.

♪ ♪ Gwine meet 'um een de Prommus Lan'.

♪♪ ♪ [blues music] [seagulls calling] Awright, mens, I ready fuh ride luck faar ez'e gwine!

'Fo' dayclean tuhmorruh, us gwi' push de Sea Gull pas' Blackfish Bank 'fo' us drop ankuh.

I figguh de boat could fill tuh de gonnil wid pyo' fish!

Jake, you plan fuh tek de Sea Gull?

'E time fuh Septembuh storm.

You 'membuh...storm ent come yuh two yeah han' runn'n'!

I wan' you fuh goin' pass de baar.

How us pay fuh you man-chile eddy-cashun?

Dey odduh way fuh mek money.

Yeddy de 'ooman!

Mebbe you wan' me fuh swing cott'n bale!

[men laughing] Mawnin', Porgy...

I hab good news!

I bin tuh see me w'ite folk 'bout Petuh.

Dey hab w'ite juntlemun fr'en' name Mistuh Aa'chdale.

'E a law man en' kin git Petuh out de jail.

I tell'um you talk tuhr'um, 'cause you onduhstan' buckruh.

'Dey said 'e gwi' come see you, sence you cripple en' you come dis side eb'ry day.

Wuh you t'ink you duh do?

Dat stuff cos' money!

I ent said nutt'n' w'en you git dem boy drunk-up, but nobody gwi' sell happy dus' 'roun' yuh!

'E stan' so, Sistuh!

Come, leh we be fr'en'?

Me...fr'en' wid you?!

Case you done fuhgit, dis 'ooman detriment.

I'll crack you teet' and stomp you feet and w'up you till you sweat!

I's been want'n' tuh do you een.

You might t'ink 'e iz a sin.

I'll push you out, en' wooo, I hate de smell you gibb'n'!

Jis' w'en you 'spect, I kin light up on your behind!

Me belly ache, fuh goodness sake, wid all your New Yawk lies!!

I will caa'v' you up so bad, the wus't you ever had!

Your happy dus'... you ent fr'en' wid us.

You mek dese people mad!

Fr'en' wid you?

Hell kin freeze fus'.

[pleasantly] Mawnin', lawyuh.

You duh look'n' fuh somebody?

Porgy lib yuh, enty?

Yes, he right obuh yanduh.

Mawnin', Porgy.

Mawnin', lawyuh.

I have a message fuh you from Lawyuh Aa'chdale.

You binnuh hitch your goat near he window.

He want you fuh move on.

I binnuh hitch tuh dat post on dat corner 'most t'ree munt'!

What mek so he ent wan' me dey dey?

I ent know fuh sure.

He say sump'n' 'bout de goat.

I figure Mistuh Aa'chdale t'ink de goat need soap.

What a goat gwi' do wid soap?

I ent puhzac'ly know.

But I know you fuh haffuh moobe on.

How you do?

You Crown Bess, enty?

No, suh, 'e ent!

'E Porgy Bess!

Fuh true?

Den you gwi' need deewo'se.

Wuh dat iz?

Ef de 'ooman gwi' lib wid you, 'e haffuh hab deewo'se f'um Crown eeduhso 'e ent legal.

Well, how much it cos'?

One dolluh, ef 'e ent got no tail.

When you git deewo'se, I seal'um fuh you, fuh show you done pay cash fuhr'um.

Bess, you wan' deewo'se, enty?

Wuh you t'ink, Porgy?

I gwi' buy you deewo'se!

[chuckling] Heh-heh, heh-heh-heh.

[chuckling] Hu-hum, hu-hum.

Hol'on, hol'on... 'e ent lawful yet!

Yuh.

How long you and Crown been marri'd?

Us ent nebbuh been marri'd.

Hmm...den deewo'se hab tail tie up 'puntop'um.

(Porgy) No , no, no!

You can't ontie uh tail... gimme me dolluh back!

Whodat say I can't ontie de tail?

'Cep' deewo'se wid tail cos' two dolluh.

'E tek uh berry soon-man tuh deewo'se woman who ent never been marri'd.

Don't pay him no two dolluh.

'E ent wut' no two dolluh!

Berrywell, berrywell.

Sence us ole fr'en' I gwi' mek dis deewo'se one dollar fufty cent.

Ent cos' dat much, w'en one dollar fufty cent kin change her f'um uh 'ooman tuh uh lady.

[Porgy chuckling] Heh-heh-heh, hm-hm-hm-hm.

[Porgy chuckling] Heh-heh, heh-heh...heh-heh.

(woman) You step right over yuh.

Uh buckruh duh come 'yuh.

'Um ax ef dis Cabbage Row.

[whispering] Uh buckruh duh come.

I'm looking for a man by the name of Porgy.

Can you direct me?

Porgy?

I ent nebbuh yeddy nobody 'roun' yuh name Porgy.

I'm a friend, Mr. Archdale, and I want to help him.

(Serena) Go 'long... wa ke Porgy up.

Can't you tell we people w'en you shum?

Oh, you mean Porgy?

I ent onduhstan' wuh name you duh call.

Porgy, juntleman come fuh see you.

Porgy, I'm the Rutledges' lawyer.

Serena Robbins is the daughter of their old coachman, and she asked them to help get her friend Petuh out of jail.

So tell me what happened.

Well, uh, yuh's how 'e bin, boss.

Crown kill Robbin, and then Petuh shum.

Now Crown done git 'way, en' dey lock up old Petuh.

Well, Petuh must have someone to go his bond.

Do you know a man by the name of Huysenberg who keeps a shop by the East End wharf?

Yeah, I know'um...he rob everybody he git he hand on.

I see you know him.

[chuckling] Well, take this $10 to him.

Tell him you want him to go Peter's bond.

He has an arrangement with the magistrate that makes him entirely satisfactory.

(Porgy) T' engk you, boss.

T'egnk you, boss... Gawd bless you, boss.

Oh, Porgy... there's another little matter I want to talk to you about.

You've been begging right under my office window.

Well, I bin a-hitched dey 'mos' t'ree munt' now.

I figguh, Porgy, you done fin' yourself uh fine juntlemen wid uh place een 'e haa't fuh po' cripple.

I have a place in my heart for the cripple, but not for the goat!

But dis a berry mannussubble goat, boss.

You know, Lawyuh Fra'juh, 'e say you t'ink 'e need soap.

Now, I can't figguh how come 'e need soap.

I mean, dis week mek de t'ree week han' runn'n' dat goat done nyam all Serena wash soap.

He doesn't need it inside!

Well, wuh a goat gwi' do wid soap outside?

Ohhhh!

You don't like how 'e smell, huh?

[Porgy and others laughing] Berrywellden, boss.

'Fo' tuhmorruh I gwi' hab dat goat so wash, 'e gwi' smell like a rose f'um de paa'k!

[Porgy laughing] Mawnin', Mistuh Aa'chdale.

I done gib' dis man your message.

'Membuh, you moobe on.

If Peter isn't out in a week, let me know.

I suppose you all are going to the picnic today?

(all) Yaas, suh, boss, we gwine.

Bess, you sho' you ent change you min' 'bout de picnic now, sence you hab deewo'se?

Divorce?

Oh, yaas, suh, Mr. Aa'chdale.

Lawyuh Fra'juh, 'e done sold me 'ooman uh deewo'se.

She honorable 'ooman now.

Didn't the judge tell you he would put you in jail if you sold any more divorces?

I have a good mind to report you!

"I, Simon Frazier, hereby divorce Bess and Crown "for a charge of one dollar and fifty cents cash.

"Signed, Simon Frazier.

Sealed...Charleston Steamboat Company"!

Where did you get this seal?!

I got it f'um de Jew junk shop, boss.

Me deewo'se can't specify, boss?

Porgy done pay a dollar en' fufty cent fuhr'um.

Well...

I guess I'd keep it.

Respectability at one-fifty would be a bargain anywhere.

Remember, Frazier, no more divorces... or to jail you go!

T'engk you, boss.

Gawd bress you, boss.

Gawd bress you.

Moobe on, moobe on.

(all) Moobe on, moobe on...moobe on.

'Lo, Bess... gwine tuh de picnic?

No, I reckun I gwi' stay home.

Picnic awright for small-town folk, but us... us love de high life.

[broom swishing] shwt...shwt...shwt...

I cannah' figguh whattuh mek you tuh heng aroun' yuh.

Wid you looks en' you ways wid mens, us kin make big money tuh New Yawk!

(Bess) I ent nebbuh see a nigguh more ondeestunt en' no'count than you.

Oh, come on, Bess!

How 'bout a leetle of happy dus'?

Mmm...jis' fuh ole time sake?

I done t'ru wid happy dus'!

All right.

All righty, you mens, they kin come en' go, but ole Spo't'n' Life and happy dus'... ent gwine no weh!

[laughing] Heh-heh, heh-heh.

[laughing] Heh-heh, heh-ha.

Wuh wrong wid you, Sistuh?

Come on, you be late fuh de picnic!

Come on, now.

(Porgy) Gw ine tuh de picnic wi d Maria.

Yuh.

Gwine.

Gal, come on.

(Bess) Bye, Porgy!

♪ [blues music, trumpet wailing] [water babbling] Ohhhh!

Crown?

Oh, you know berry well dis Crown!

I see you lan', and I binnuh wait yuh all day for you.

I mos' dead on dis dam' i'lun'!

You ent look mos' dead.

You mo'bigguh den ebbuh!

I mos' dead f'um de lonesome.

Oh, Lawd, I glad you come!

Crown-- Shhh.... Bess, liss'n tuh wuh I hab fuh tell you.

I gwi' wait right'yuh till de cott'n come een, en' den de lib'n easy.

Daby gwi' hide you en' me on de Sabannuh boat!

I can't stay, Crown.

[boat horn sounding] De boat go lef' me.

I libb'n wid Porgy now.

Oh, let me go, Crown!

I come back fuh see you 'long de Friday boat!

Just let me go!!

Porgy me man now!

No man ebbuh tek 'ooman f'um Crown!

'E gwi' be big joke on'um ef he lose 'ooman tuh a man who ent hab no laig needuh gizzut!

[flatteringly] Let me go, Crown.

You kin git pl enty odduh 'ooman.

[laughing] Wha' I wan' wid odduh woman, huh?

I hab 'ooman.

♪ [blues music] Come on, we ent got no time.

'E mos' dayclean... come on.

(Maria) I hope you hab good luck, Jake.

Hi, eb'rybody!

(Maria) Oh, t'engk Gawd, Petuh duh home!

(Serena) Come'yuh, Lily... Daddy Petuh duh home!

Lawd, us glad fuh see yuh!

(Lily) Do, Jedus, you me ole shuga' daddy!

I a'mos' t'ink I gwi' nebbuh see Cabbage Row agen!

(Bess) Oh , Gawd...oh, Jedus!

Wuh... wuh ail Bess?

Porgy 'ooman berry sick!

(Lily) 'E ractify een 'e min'.

How long 'e stan' so?

Mo'nuh week now... sence picnic tuh Kittywah.

'E gone off en' git loss een de palmettuh t'ickit.

De boat lef'um, en' Bess ent git home fuh de two day!

(Bess) Oh , Gawd!

Oh, Jedus!

[crying indistinctly in Gullah] Oh, Gawd!

Oh...glad fuh see you, Petuh!

[chuckling] Huh-huh, huh-huh, huh.

Bess berry sick... 'e sick almos' uh week now.

I ent know wuffuh do!

I know wuffuh do.

Sen'um tuh de hawsspittle.

Fuh Gawd sake, Petuh, you know we ent fuh send we people tuh de hawsspittle fuh de stoodun' tuh hab 'um!

Don' let 'um sen' me Bess tuh de hawsspittle.

(Serena) You mus'e fuhgit I pray Clara baby out dat cunwulshun.

I done pray fuh de sinnuh en' de right'ous alltwo!

Dat true, Sistuh... you pray fuhr'um.

Dat cyan' hu't'um none!

Oh, Jedus... ♪ you done calm de watuh ub de Sea ub Gallyree!

♪ ♪ En' you done cas' de debble ♪ ♪ out de 'flicted time en' time 'gen!

♪ Time en' time 'gen!

♪ Mek you lay you han' 'puntop we sistuh head?

♪ ♪ En' cas' de debble out'um, samelukkuh you duh do, ♪ ♪ time en' time 'gen!

♪ ♪ En' lif' dis po' cripple, oh, up out de dus'!

♪ ♪ En' mek 'e 'ooman well, time en' time 'gen!

♪♪ Hallylooyuh!

Hallylooyuh!

T'engk you, Jedus!

[praise shouting] Haa'kee tuh me!

You wan' Bess cure?

O' co'se I wan'um cure!

Mek you ent gone tuh Lody?

Fuh mek cunjuh?

You hab two dolluh?

Yeh.

G'em de two dolluh fuh mek cunjuh tuh cas' de debble out'uh Bess.

'Cep'n I cyan' lef' Bess.

Mawnin', Maria... how 'bout some brekwus'?

Come yuh, Mingo... come yuh, son.

You do leetle job fuh Porgy, en' I fix you brekwus'.

You know de cunjuh 'ooman?

Co'se... eb'rybody know Lody.

Mek'ace...ask'um fix cunjuh tuh cas' de debble out Bess.

Porgy gwi' gib you two dolluh fuh g'em.

Long way tuh Lody house 'fo' brekwus'.

You could git dey en' back 'fo' de brekwus' done cook!

(Porgy) I gwi' gib you twenty-fibe cents fuh goin' tuh Lody.

Berrywell, twenty-five cent mek'um mo' closuh.

Yuh de two dolluh fuh Lody, en' de twenty-fibe cent fuh you'se'f.

Oh, Maria, I want shaa'k steak fuh brekwus'.

Shaa'k steak...

I ent saa'b alley cat!

Wha' mek you call Mingo alley cat?

You ent know nutt'n'.

Een stylish res'runt, dey hab de name 'puntop de wall, en' you kin chuse wuh you wan' eat.

Dat alley caa't.

In dis res'runt, I recide wuh you eat.

I ent saa'b alley cat.

Porgy?

Oh, t'engk Gawd!

T'engk Gawd!

T'engk Gawd!

I hab you back, Bess.

I bin sick, enty?

Oh, you bin berry sick!

W'en you git back f'um Kittywah, your eyes samelukkuh a fireball.

Maria git you intuh bed, en' you ent know me.

Ef me head ent been tek'way wid de febuh, I s'pose I ent binnuh come back.

You mean you ent mean fuh come back tuh Porgy?

No...

I mean 'e wrong fuh I come back.

You ent haffuh fret, Bess.

I know you bin wid Crown.

Porgy, how you know dat?

You duh talk 'bout'um w'en you out you head.

How 'e stan' 'tween you en' Crown?

'E say he gwi' come fuh me w'en cott'n come een town.

You gwine wid'um?

I tell'um I gwine.

But I no lef' you by you'se'f, Porgy.

Ef 'e ent bin no Crown... ef 'e bin jis' you en' me, wuh den?

[crying] Oh, Gawd, Porgy, please!

Don' leh dat man handl' me!

Ohhh.... Oh, Gawd!

Dey, now, Bess... dey, now.

You hab you man.

You hab Porgy fuh tek cyah ub you.

Wuh kind'uh man you t'ink I iz fuh leh anudduh man tek 'ooman?

No, suh.

You hab you man... you hab Porgy!

Come now...you done set yuh too long.

Porgy gwi' get you back tuh bed!

[church bells ringing] dong...dong...dong... [church bells ringing] dong...dong...dong... [church bells ringing] dong...dong...dong... Twenty!

[women crying] De harricane come!

[women wailing] [thunder rumbling] ♪ [blues music, cymbals rolling ominously] (several) ♪ Let us break bread ♪ ♪ tuhgedduh on our knees.

♪ ♪ Let us break bread ♪ ♪ tuhgedduh on our knees.

♪ ♪ When I fall on my knees-- ♪♪ Fuh Gawd sake, sing sump'n' else!

(singers) ♪ Somebody knock'n' tuh de do'... ♪ ♪ somebody knock'n' tuh de do'.

♪ ♪ Ohh, oh, Mary-- ♪♪ You uh fine bunch ub nigguh!

Lock you fr'en' out een dis wedduh!

Dey de one I look fuh.

Wuh mek you ent come hail you man, huh?

'Cause you ent me man.

I done tell you I ent gwine wid you.

I gwi' stay wid Porgy fuhr'ebbuh.

(singers) ♪ Somebody knock'n'-- ♪♪ (Crown) Shut up!

Shut up!

I ent come f'um Kittywah fuh uh funeral!

Dem wuh cyan' wait fuh dey Jedgement Day kin say good-bye en' step out de do'.

[laughing derisively] Daddy Petuh, yuh you chance.

De Jim Crow ready fuh trabble, en' you ent need no ticket!

How about you, Sistuh?

You still done grebe?

Oh, you find anudduh man!

[laughing derisively] Bess... we daance?

[baby crying] Oh, you ent wan' dance wid me?

Den mebbe you wan' dance... wid you new man?

[laughing mockingly] [Clara screams] 'E Sea Gull!

[baby crying] (Bess) Mek somebody ent gone fuh Clara?

[baby crying] Ent dey no man 'r oun' yuh?

Mingo... ent you yeddy de 'ooman ax fuh man?

(Crown) Sport'n' Life!

Daddy Petuh!

Scipio-o-o!

Porgy... ent you yeddy you 'ooman ax fuh man?

[spits] Pttt!

Yah come uh man.

[slams shirt down] boom!

[wind howling] Arhhhh!

[baby and women crying] [baby and women crying] ♪ [blues music, trumpet wailing] ♪ [seagulls calling] You still up, Maria?

You ent come sing fuh de dead.

Uh too tired wid de cleanup.

Wuh us gwi' do wid Clara po' baby?

Someone haffuh mek sho' de chile git raise deestunt!

Oh, lemme 'lone, Serena!

I ent de same 'ooman wuh used tuh run wid Crown.

Shum.

'E done awready t'ink I 'e ma.

[baby babbling] Hol'um uh minute, Se rena.

[baby babbling] Yaas...

I s'pose you do hab a good ma wuh fin'lly at las' hab Gawd een 'e haa't.

You ent haffuh fret.

[baby babbling] Dis baby done fuh know 'e home.

[baby babbling] Good night... Sistuh.

Good night, Si stuh.

[laughing] Eh, heh-heh, heh-heh, ha.

Wuh you duh laugh at, you low-down skunk?

I duh laugh 'cause dey duh sing fuh Crown.

[whines mockingly] [laughs] Crown gwine laugh, too, when he yeddy 'um.

You duh tell me Crown ent dead?

I ent tell you nutt'n'...

Au ntie.

Lef' dis court!

Hey, I gwine, ol e lady.

[laughing derisively] I gwine.

(Crown) You man done come fuh ya, Bess!

Arrr, ergh... uhh!

She hab she man.

[laughing] Heh-heh, heh-heh, ha-ha-ha.

♪ [blues music, trumpet wailing] [knocking] Come on out... both of you!

What is your name?

I jis' Porgy, boss.

Of course.

You 'membuh me.

You done gimme 'nuf penny tuh Meet'n' Street!

I didn't know you without the goat.

Now, this man Crown, you knew him, didn't you?

Uh...yaas, boss, seem like I remembuhr'um.

'E nyuse'tuh come 'roun'yuh long time ago.

Could you identify him?

Would you know him if you saw him again?

Well, if I shum.

But I sho' ent wan' shum!

[laughing] (coroner) Well, I'm through.

Let's go.

Come on, it's almost time for my inquest.

Hold on, there!

It's just a summons.

All you have to do is look at the dead man's stiff body and tell the coroner who it is.

You mean I haffuh look 'pun Crown face?

Yep, that's right.

Oh, Gawd.

Wuh I gwi' do?

I can't look 'pun Crown face.

You haffuh git out ub yuh.

When de man what kill Crown look 'pun him, Crown woun' gwi' bleed!

Oh, Jedus!

Dat he'p de poleece know what kill'um.

Oh, Gawd!

Scipio!

Scipio, go git de goat hook tuh de wagon.

Us haffuh git Porgy out ub yuh.

Come'yuh, Mingo!

He'p me wid Porgy.

Dey gwi' catch'um, enty?

Dey stan' so, Sistuh!

How long dey gwi' lock'um up?

Not long... 'bout uh yeah.

Come, Bess, gib me you han'.

Ole Spo't'n' Life hab de stuff fuh tek 'way de lonesome blues.

Dis' uh leetle tetch... fuh ole time.

[inhales sharply] En' 'membuh...dey plenty mo' weh dat come f'um.

You rattlesnake!

Ah...you kin onrabble you mout', 'cause when you wan' de nex' hit... ole Spo't'n' Life gwi' be right yuh.

[chuckling smugly] [chuckling] Wuffuh you duh wait 'roun' yuh?

Oh... jis' wait'n'.

Jis' a-wait'n'.

You mus'e ent know Bess!

And you mus ent know happy dus'.

[chuckling] ♪ [blues guitar music] ♪ Scipio, op'n de gate... Porgy home.

[chuckling] Heh-heh-heh, ha-ha-ha.

Shh, shh...nobody leh Bess know I back till I call fuhr'her.

I hab su'prize fuhr'her.

[chuckling] Lukkuh yuh.

Eh?

Eh?

(women) Dat nice, Porgy.

[laughing happily] I tell ya, 'e one gal look good een red dress, enty?

I tell ya, I mus' be de fus' person 'roun' yuh gone jail po' en' lef'um rich!

[everybody laughing] Yeah, I tell you, de buckruh gyaa'd, he search me, en' I had me lucky bone een me mout'.

When dey put me een me new bo'd'n'house en' I get settle een, I go t'ru dem odduh crap-shoot'n' men like Glory Hallylooyuh!

[laughing] Den de big buckruh gyaa'd, he yeddy 'bout'um, so he come ask me fuh show'um how tuh sing lucky tuh de bone.

I say, "Yaas, suh!"

'Fo' I leh him git'way, I done took'um fo t'ree dolluh, seb'n cent, en' dishyuh shu't!

[everybody laughing] Now de time tuh call Bess.

[laughing happily] Bess... you Porgy duh home!

[laughing happily] Bess!

Bess, you in dey dey?

Weh Bess iz?

Mek somebody yuh tell me weh Bess iz!

Come'yuh, Maria... Porgy duh home!

You haffuh talk tuhr'um.

(Porgy) Mek'ace en' answer me, Maria...weh Bess go?

Mek somebody ent tell me weh Bess iz?

Weh 'e gone?

'E gone, Porgy... 'e gone.

[baby crying] You mean Bess dead?

You mean 'e dead?!

'E mo' wussuh den dead!

[baby crying] Weh 'e gone?

'E gone wid Spo't'n' Life 'long de New Yawk boat.

Weh dat iz dey goin'?

Tuh New Yawk.

Scipio!

Scipio, bring me goat!

W'ich way New Yawk stan'?

Up nawt' pas' de Custum House.

(Mingo) Porgy, you can't go.

'E dat way?

'E dat way?!

[crying] You can't go, Porgy... you can't find her!

(Mingo) Porgy, you can't go... it's too far.

Porgy!

[Serena sobbing] ♪ [blues music] ♪ Program captioned by: CompuScripts Captioning, Inc. 803.988.8438 ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪