24

                        CYRIL
                (angrily)
       You're warning me?  Warning me?  
       Oh, now you can warn me.  You didn't 
       bother to warm me when you decided 
       to up and run away, did you?  You
       took everything that I held precious 
       and dear without giving me a second 
       thought.  Well, it took some doing—
       I've traveled far and wide—but I 
       found you, and I'm reclaiming what's 
       mine, what's part of my blood.
 
                PASTOR MILLER (V.O.)
       Who is he?

AUNTIE MAMA is anxious, tense.  She speaks to PASTOR MILLER and the DEACON while keeping a watchful eye on CYRIL.

                      AUNTIE MAMA
                (quickly)
       A deranged fan I thought we were well 
       rid of long ago.  Excuse me…

CYRIL scowls at AUNTIE MAMA as she goes to RUBY’s side.

The CONGREGATION converges from every corner towards the noisy confrontation.  They have not witnessed a hullabaloo such as this since the last sighting of Halley’s Comet.

PASTOR MILLER and the DEACON take up positions directly behind CYRIL.  RUBY gazes at him darkly.