Album: Ragtime Soundtrack

The Courtship

[MOTHER]
Sarah, let me take him for a while. You haven't slept.

[There is a knock at the door]

[MOTHER]
Yes?

[COALHOUSE]
I'm looking for a woman of color whose name is Sarah.
She is said to reside in one of these houses.

[LITTLE BOY]
She's here. She's living in our attic.

[COALHOUSE]
Will you tell her, please that Mr. Coalhouse Walker Jr.,
desires to speak with her?

[MOTHER]
Certainly. Please wait here.

[LITTLE BOY]
This is Sarah's baby. You want a cookie?

[MOTHER]
Sarah, you have a caller. A Mr. Walker. Will you come
down to the kitchen?

[SARAH]
No Ma'am. Send him away, please.

[MOTHER]
Well, that's the most words you've spoken since you've
been here.

[COALHOUSE]
Hmmm...

[MOTHER]
Sarah is unable to see you. Good day.

[COALHOUSE]
Thank you Ma'am. Tell her I'll come back next Sunday.

[GRANDFATHER]
Such was the coming of the colored man in the car
to Broadview Avenue.

[ALL]
Each Sunday, he'd come driving.
Curtains would part,
Neighbours would peek.

[MOTHER]
I'm sorry, Mr. Walker. Sarah still will not receive you.

[COALHOUSE]
Will you see that she gets these flowers, Ma'am?

[MOTHER, ALL]
Week after week!

And aftyer weeks of Sundays

[MOTHER]
Sending him off seemed a crime...

Mr. Walker, it must be a long drive for you. Perhaps
you would like a cup of tea before you go?

[COALHOUSE]
This piano is badly in need of a tuning.

[MOTHER]
Oh yes. We are terrible about that.

[GRANDFATHER]
Do you know any coon songs?

[COALHOUSE]
Coon songs are made for Minstrel shows. White men
sing them in blackface. This is called Ragtime.