Intimate Apparel: Act 1, Scene 5 Summary & Analysis

Esther sits in her bedroom, sewing a silk camisole. Mrs. Dickson enters and gives Esther a letter, saying that she doesn't trust George at all. Esther notices that the letter is open and asks Mrs. Dickson to not open her mail. Mrs. Dickson insists that she's glad she opened it and asks Esther what she plans to do. She says that men like George run away with girls' common sense and says that Esther is too practical for this sort of thing. Esther retorts that she doesn't need Mrs. Dickson's approval and asks what's wrong about expecting something from George. Mrs. Dickson says that Mr. Charles has asked about Esther twice this week, but Esther scathingly says that she's certain that Mr. Charles doesn't even know who she is.

Mrs. Dickson says that Esther is stubborn, particular, and needs to be receptive. Esther spits that she's not silly like the other girls in the boardinghouse, and says that she has every right to exchange letters with George even if nothing comes of it. Mrs. Dickson admits that Esther certainly has the right, but says that her own pride ultimately meant that she had to compromise. She starts to warn Esther, but Esther cuts her off and says that she has $1,800 saved in her crazy quilt to one day open her beauty parlor, so she doesn't need Mr. Charles. Mrs. Dickson derisively says that the money and the beauty parlor won't be enough; Esther will be unhappily making garments for another country girl turned socialite next year. Esther says she wants someone to love, but Mrs. Dickson rips up the letter and storms out.

George appears and begins to recite his letter to Esther. He says that he was surprised when fabric scraps fell out of the envelope last time, and he tucked them into his shirt. The scene transforms, and Mr. Marks unrolls blue and magenta silk for Esther. He eagerly explains that the magenta is hand-dyed. Mr. Marks offers Esther the blue silk and as she touches it, he encourages her to make something for herself with it. Esther says that the ladies will love it and pulls some around her shoulders. Mr. Marks puts the magenta cloth around his own and they laugh.

To diffuse the tension between them, Esther notices again that Mr. Marks is missing a button and offers to sew it on for him. He refuses. She asks why he always wears black when he clearly delights in the colors of the fabrics he sells. He says that it's how he shows devotion to God, and Esther asks if marrying a person he's never met does the same thing. Mr. Marks says that there's a thousand years of history that go into the answer, but Esther suggests that it sounds much simpler than that. She apologizes for her forwardness and asks him to wrap the magenta cloth.

Mr. Marks says that his family has always married this way, and when Esther points out that he's in a different country now, Mr. Marks explains that his people come with everything they might need. His suit belonged to his father and though it's old, it's his favorite: it reminds him of his relationships to God and his ancestors. As Mr. Marks turns, Esther gently touches his collar. If Mr. Marks notices, he doesn't let on.

The scene shifts. Mrs. Van Buren wears a kimono over a new corset made of hand-dyed magenta silk. She's worried that it's not a popular material, but Esther assures her it'll be popular in the fall. Mrs. Van Buren says she'll slip that into conversation this evening. She says her in-laws, "the frog and the wart," are visiting, and tells Esther that she was forced to sit through a boring opera. She would've rather gone to the electric show at Madison Square Garden, but her husband refuses to let himself be impressed. She adds that she started her period this morning and when she told her husband, he spat at her and it made her feel guilty, even though all women menstruate. She lets her kimono drop and says that maybe she'll run away and be a bohemian.

Esther says that she doesn't understand why Mrs. Van Buren lets her husband treat her this way, but knows she overstepped. Mrs. Van Buren asks Esther if she's ever been to the opera and declares that Esther is lucky when she says she hasn't been. Esther says she's only been to the theater once and saw a blind girl singing spirituals. She asks Mrs. Van Buren to lift her arms so she can adjust the corset. Mrs. Van Buren lifts them seductively and shows Esther where the corset is pinching her. Esther stands behind her client and adjusts one of Mrs. Van Buren's breasts in the corset before tightening the laces.

Mrs. Van Buren says she's never seen a "colored show," but has heard they're excellent. She says she'd like to see one and asks Esther to take her sometime. Esther asks if Mrs. Van Buren will take her to the opera in return, and Mrs. Van Buren says she would if she could. She giggles that it would be “marvelously scandalous” and tenderly touches Esther's hand. Esther diplomatically pulls away as Mrs. Van Buren whispers that it's easy to be with Esther. She says that Esther's visits are all she has to look forward to, and she loves writing the letters to George.

Mrs. Van Buren suggests that they write something exciting to George, but Esther asks if they can write something simple—she believes George is falling in love with her. She says that she doesn't want George to be disappointed, but Mrs. Van Buren reassures her. Esther asks if Mrs. Van Buren can describe the silk of her new corset, and Mrs. Van Buren remarks on what her friends would say if they knew she wrote love letters to a black man. Esther points out that people do all sorts of things they never talk about, and Mrs. Van Buren admits that she once smoked opium with a proper lady. Esther is quiet a moment, but admits that she touched someone she wasn't supposed to. She knows it was wrong, but she wanted to and couldn't help herself.

George recites his letter to Esther. It's early morning and he imagines Esther far away. He says that they've been writing for six months and so much has changed. A water boy died two nights ago, and the white work chief has said nothing about it except that the new boy isn't as good. George can barely recall the boy’s face. He knows that he could die tomorrow, and he says that he once dreamed for nothing more than an ox. Now, he sees American men laughing and knows that they do terrible things, but still, George thinks he wants to see America. He says that he loves Esther and asks if she'll marry him.