Intimate Apparel: Act 1, Scene 6 Summary & Analysis

Mayme hangs stockings up to dry in her bedroom and asks Esther why she's smiling so much. Esther admits that George asked her to marry him and hands Mayme the letter. She says that she loves him as much as she can, given that she's never met him, and since this is her last chance, she said yes. Mayme congratulates Esther and says that George must be a good man, and Esther thinks that a man who worked this hard to court her must be okay. She notes that George is arriving next month and asks Mayme to witness the ceremony. Mayme is refuses; she says that she and God aren't "on speaking terms." She pulls out a fancy bottle of gin and pours them each a glass. They toast to "one less spinster in New York."

Esther hopes that she's not making a mistake, and Mayme reassures her. Mayme admits that she was engaged once to a mortician's apprentice who hated music. Esther asks if Mayme regrets not following through with it, and Mayme admits that she sometimes does. She lifts her glass and tells Esther that as a married lady, Esther is going to go to all manner of "ridiculous functions," drink lemonade, and stop visiting her. She says it wouldn't be appropriate for Esther to visit, but Esther says they'll continue to be friends. Mayme starts to play piano and the two women sing a song about wanting a man who will take care of her and her home. Esther stops singing and nervously contemplates her decision.

Back in Esther's bedroom, Mrs. Dickson packs Esther's suitcase and moans about losing Esther's company at dinner—the other girls are horrible conversationalists. She holds up one of Esther's dresses and says that under no circumstances can Esther take it: it's so frumpy it will scare George away, and Mrs. Dickson insists that even her very Christian grandmother wouldn't have worn it. Esther tries to defend the dress, but Mrs. Dickson says that Esther can't be a prude if she's going to fulfill her duty to keep George at home. Esther is shocked, but Mrs. Dickson gives more advice: Esther needs to attend to George's needs in order to stay happy, and to do what needs to be done in that regard no matter what the minister says about "decency."

Mrs. Dickson says that Esther also can't allow George to beat her, because it will never be a one-time occurrence. She says that since they're friends and since Esther is "an innocent," she felt it was necessary to share this information. Esther insists that she's going to be fine and agrees to let Mrs. Dickson donate her dress to the church. Mrs. Dickson sits down and seems awed that Esther is actually getting married. Esther asks if Mrs. Dickson really expected her to stay forever, and Mrs. Dickson admits that she did. Esther assures her that a new girl will move in and Mrs. Dickson will move on, but Mrs. Dickson dabs her eyes and says she'll miss Esther. She tells Esther that she doesn't have to go through with this, but Esther says she does: she'll turn to dust otherwise.

Esther says that she's found someone just like Mrs. Dickson found her husband, and Mrs. Dickson says that she married him because he was the only decent black man in New York who would have her. She agrees that they came to love each other, but tells Esther how her mother wanted her to "marry up." Her father was the married minister of their mission and her mother was a washerwoman who didn't want Mrs. Dickson to be ashamed of her hands. Mrs. Dickson would watch her mother put her bleeding hands in gloves and not let her daughter help, and instead insisted that marrying for love was foolish. Mrs. Dickson says that she compromised herself and ended up with the well-furnished boardinghouse.

Esther says that Mrs. Dickson's husband was a good man, and Mrs. Dickson says that he was handsome and spoke well, but he was too addicted to opium to know or care that he was married. She says that regardless, she never had to be a laundress, and her beautiful hands prove it. Mrs. Dickson says that Esther deserves a gentleman and asks why she is going for "a common laborer." Esther says she loves George, and Mrs. Dickson cautions her to make sure to get a piece of George's heart in return. George appears and writes that he's in Havana, waiting for his ship to set sail.

Esther enters Mr. Marks's shop. Mr. Marks is thrilled to see her and says that he kept checking his competitor's shop, as he's been losing customers. He says that he would've written and asked about her health if he had her address. Esther smiles and says that she's well. Mr. Marks looks away shyly, says that he has something beautiful to show Esther, and hesitantly invites her to have a cup of tea with him. Esther accepts and sits. She smiles at Mr. Marks and he compliments her smile. Esther immediately stops smiling, and, embarrassed, Mr. Marks gets up to fetch the fabric.

Esther says that she's actually here for fabric for a simple wedding gown. Mr. Marks pulls down several bolts and Esther examines them without much excitement. Mr. Marks offers to give Esther one of the popular fabrics for a lower price, but Esther says it's still too expensive. She points to a faded roll, but Mr. Marks says that one is for a much older woman or the mother of the bride. Esther says that she's not young. Mr. Marks is silent and surprised and then confirms that Esther is getting married.

Mr. Marks offers congratulations and pulls out his finest wedding fabric. Esther insists that it's too expensive, but touches the fabric. She closes her eyes, holds the fabric to her face, and weeps. Mr. Marks says that it will be her first wedding gift. He clearly wants to touch her and comfort her. Esther accepts the fabric and they look into each other's eyes, unable to say how they feel about each other. Esther and Mr. Marks leave the stage.

Mayme sits at her piano and Mrs. Van Buren appears in her boudoir, smoking and drinking. Mr. Marks appears in his apartment to sew on his jacket button, while Mrs. Dickson steps up with a wedding veil. George appears in his best suit, which fits him poorly, and Esther enters in her wedding gown. Everyone except George and Esther leaves the stage, and the couple meets nervously. They look out and a camera flashes. The image freezes and a caption appears, reading "Unidentified Negro Couple ca. 1905."