Choir Boy Quotes

“PHARUS. Wan't a fight.
HEADMASTER. So, what, you fell?
PHARUS. Fight mean you put your hands up and
Fight back. I just ... just took it.
HEADMASTER. Why ... why would you do that?
PHARUS. What you fight for, sir? What you fight
For? You fight when you believe what
You doing, what you are, is right. Huh.
Everybody 'round you always telling you, showing
You that you ain't nothing, that they don't
Want you to be nothing, what you fight
For then? What you defending?
You believe like, like they believe so
Who you fighting for?”
― Tarell Alvin McCraney, Choir Boy

“DAVID. I don't believe this is a prayer for regret or remorse
Or whatever. I think he's ... I think he's surprised at who
He is ... who he really is.
I think he's looking down blood on his fingers and he saying,
"What am I Lord?"
What a marvellous and fearful thing am I?
Are all of us, sir.
HEADMASTER. David did you hit Pharus Young?
DAVID. I had prayed over it, so many times. Just kept praying
On it. Every time it would happen.
HEADMASTER. Every time?
DAVID. And the Lord was silent. I mean when I got called
To be a minister I could feel the Spirit but when I was
Asking him to make this ... make it ... go away
He fell so quiet
And I ain't have nobody but Pharus. You understand, sir?
It was us alone in it until I thought I heard somebody come
In and ...
HEADMASTER. What are you saying son?
DAVID. I should have waited on the Lord.
I didn't look to see where it was leading until it was too late ...
HEADMASTER. You ...
DAVID. 'Til I looked at my hands and some of the blood spilling was my own. (Shifts.)”
― Tarell Alvin McCraney, Choir Boy

“MR. PENDLETON. I see, I see, you were preparing for someone to Hurt Pharus?
HEADMASTER. Yes, no, well yes but no...
MR. PENDLETON. ... Never thought someone could love him.”
― Tarell Alvin McCraney, Choir Boy