A Soldier's Play

Act II opens with “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,” which fades as Davenport finishes dressing and speaks to the audience. He explains that by 1944, with talk of invading Europe, the Black military men were hoping to finally see some action. Davenport adds that they’ve been fighting the entire time in these Southern racist towns that didn’t want them. Even Davenport can’t arrest a lower-rank white man unless he has a white officer there. Nevertheless, he is feeling optimistic enough about his two suspects to tell Colonel Nivens to send a white officer, as long as it isn’t Taylor.

Nivens gives Davenport permission to question the two men, but first, Davenport wants to learn more about Waters from his men. Henson is next. He is surprised when Davenport asks about Waters and CJ, as Henson didn’t expect an officer to know anything about conflicts between the lower-ranked enlisted men. Henson is uncomfortable talking unless Davenport makes it an order, so Davenport obliges. Henson says that Waters didn’t like CJ and took every opportunity to degrade him. He had attacked CJ the night that a shooting happened, which Davenport hasn’t heard about; he presses Henson to continue.