Act I Summary

Act I, Scene 1 - Out in the fields, a slave girl named Diana collapses, and Phebe and the other slaves implore her to get up, or she'll be in trouble. They are afraid to invoke Amalia's wrath, for since losing her baby, she has become very cruel toward the slaves. They believe she may have even gone crazy. Scylla and some of the other slaves believe that the baby actually lived, and was taken away by the doctor. It is the same night that Scylla received her powers as a prophetess and voodoo practitioner. Scylla predicts a curse will be coming for four people. It is also revealed that Hector has since gone to live in the swamp by himself. Amalia suddenly arrives on scene to discover the slaves being idle, and calls for Jones, the overseer, who has been off...