Chili and Boots

Pearl and Charles meet at a dinner party hosted by classmates and mutual friends. Charles is instantly smitten with Pearl. 

Meanwhile, the War is raging in Europe. 

In Dr. Drew’s office, Dr. Drew asks about Charles' post-medical school plans. Charles is still indecisive. Dr. Drew reveals that he has been appointed Surgical Consultant for the United States Army's European Theater of Operations; he is tasked with leading a team of physicians through hospitals in Occupied Europe. Dr. Drew will be leaving for Europe in a few weeks and asks if Charles would be interested in joining him to work as a medic, in the hopes of providing Charles with real-world experience as well as a much needed sense of direction. Charles asks for time to consider. 

Charles tells Pearl about Dr. Drew’s offer and asks for her advice. She is conflicted: she understands how important this is for him, but is afraid that he won’t come back. Charles promises to return in one piece and asks Pearl to marry him. Pearl says Yes. 

Dr. Drew asks Charles for an answer. Charles says Yes. 

Pearl and Charles promise to write letters to each other. She waves to Charles as he departs.

Dr. Drew and Charles go to Europe. 

ACT TWO: WHERE IS CHARLES? 

The weeks pass on. 

Charles is at War, training and saving lives. He writes to Pearl periodically. 

Back in D.C, Pearl’s busy schedule distracts her from her loneliness. At Freedman’s, she meets a veritable who's who of Black America, including Charles Hamilton Houston, who ends up as one of her first patients. 

"Lawyer Charles Houston the man that does a lot in civil rights cases is now a patient of mine.....He is a very well round[ed] person whose prime interest is in law and living _____. He however is a good patient the only fault I have is to keep his mind off of business and believe me that is difficult. I doubt whether or not I’ll succeed. He’s taking his illness in his stride – he compares it to a football game (it refers to life) and feels that this is the 2nd quarter – he’s now out of the fight but he’ll be in there fighting in the second quarter..."

Houston invites Pearl to a dinner party at his house; there, she meets Walter White, and his new wife Poppy.

She receives a few letters from Charles, which describe in great detail his experience with War and racism. 

See Charles, top right, holding blood bag. 

During her freetime, Pearl writes to Charles; she misses him and begs him to come home.  

As the War rages on and the bodies pile up, Charles gains confidence as a medic and moves up the ranks. Charles tells Pearl that he doesn’t want to leave until the job is done. His letters become less frequent. 

Months pass by, Pearl is now a third year student. The distance and practice of medicine -- both at Freedman’s and in Europe-- have put a strain on Charles and Pearl’s relationship. Pearl becomes depressed and she starts to lose interest in practicing medicine. Potential suitors line up to comfort her. She is vulnerable and loses hope for her relationship with Charles.

Dr. Drew returns to Freedman for a brief visit. He trains Pearl on how to use an x-ray on her newest patient, Frank Reeves. 

"Do you remember Frank Reeves – he’s now an attorney here in the district . He was formerly in the hospital and I did some xray studies on him."

Dr. Drew hands Pearl a blood-stained envelope from Charles. She waits until she gets home to open it; she cries herself to sleep reading his letter and wakes up with a tear soaked face.

Pearl conitnues writing to Charles. 

Charles' letters stop coming altogether. 

Pearl sinks into a deeper depression.  

Back in Europe, Charles drives an army jeep on a dangerous night ride. 

In the South, Dr. Drew drives a car full of colleagues to Tuskegee. 

Charles’ jeep takes a sharp turn and drives off a cliff. 

Dr. Drew dozes off behind the wheel. 

ACT THREE: CHARLES GOES HOME

Charles lies in the medical ward. 

Dr. Drew lies in an emergency room. 

From her apartment, Pearl writes to Charles, she narrates the death of Dr. Charles Drew: 

"2 April1950

Hello my baby, yesterday was the third [worst] day in my life. I presume that mom called you or told you today about the untimely shocking death of Dr. Charles R Drew. It was such a shock to see him strong healthy and happy the day before and next morning to learn that he's dead. The color of the hospital changed -- people were automatically doing their work, faces here dropped, eyes soft with tears and reddened from pre-tearing. The corridors held only the sound of heels and muted voices -- spoken word used only when necessary -- a silence where deep in character was forced throughout in the hospital in a matter of seconds. Walking up to hospital one saw the flag at half-mast -- when one entered one found the silence such as is within a tomb.

My feelings were not unlike I experienced when World War II was declared. The same dull muted shocking situation existed. The second episode was the death of FDR. 

Drew's death hit me like that as if it were a death in my own family. This seemed so wrong unnecessary and unjustifiable to say something so ill fated. It's time we all must go and it's not for us to question. Nevertheless of the four people in the car, Drew in whose hands lay the fate of numerous men in their training, four children who the oldest of whom is just nine -- and then numerous other reasons -- it was just too unfortunate. Alas it will take numerous years for the school and hospital to replace. Only time will heal the wound that was inflicted on the hospital and school."

"3 April 1950

Hello baby

Things haven’t changed much here about the hospital. Sorrow and grief still hangs heavy about the place. I myself have been unable to accept the fact that Dr. Drew is gone. It just seems that it is not actually true. However, comes the dawn, I’ll be awaken.

They have started a Chas. R. Drew Memorial Fund, Inc. which is to be used to purchase a home for his family. He had seen to it that his children education was provided for in the event of his death thus no educational fund was established. His family as you may know lives in one of the houses on the university. They’ll be allowed to remain there til a home is obtained. This fund is to be on a national basis and already men in several of the big cities have been selected to serve on the advisory committee.

The body will lie in state at the university chapel beginning at 12:00 noon 4.4.50 til 10:00pm – then again 8:00am – 12:00pm on the 5th – from whence it will be taken to the 19th St Baptist Church for the funeral services at 1:00pm.

Waldo Scott also came in town today. All the students of the doctor are coming back home to see the last of their teacher."

"6 April 1950

Things about Washington are yet in a depressed state. It is still very hard to convince oneself of the actuality and to accept the fact of death. However as of today things are beginning to take on the color of work with thought and not merely automatic actions devoid of feeling.

Dr. Drew was in state at the University chapel on Tuesday from 12pm to 10pm. Then  on Wednesday from 8:30am to 11:30am. I went up to the chapel on Tuesday evening to pay my last respects to really a great personage. We was nicely fixed and attempts were made to smooth over the scars and bruises of the accident on his face. However in so doing, his color was greatly changed. This may in part be due to the accident per se. 

For it is felt that he must have had rupture of a great vessel yielding his rapid demise.

The funeral services were held at the 19th St. Baptist Curch. It was a very appropriate send off – if one may say that of a funeral.

The Howard University Choir under the direction of Lawson sang with their hearts and soul. One of the instructors in violin played the ‘Ave Maria’ on the fiddle – indeed beautifully so much so that it brought tears to the eyes. His life’s accomplishments were read by Rev Moore who also read the 90th psalm then his eulogy was dramatically beautifully and well done, like only Dr. Mordicae Johnson could do. Although he spoke for an hour – you realized that you were fortunate indeed lucky to have been in the company of such a person. People of his genius amicability and love of humanity are not met often in a lifetime. The Omega choir sang the Omega hymn words of which were written by Drew.

Relating the story to some one he said “God made the world – then Drew took over” Really this sums up the man’s like. His interests although versatile, he excelled always.

Many many of his friends, colleagues, students were on hand to pay their respects. Judge Hastri, Oscar Ewing, Peter Marshall Murray, Schneider et al students of his from the Virgin Islands, Louisanna, Washington, New York, New Jersey et al were in town.

However even having seen him and being present at the funeral services, I still find it hard to accept. As you have said, if perhaps just someone else anyone else could have been selected rather than he – I don’t believe anyone of his friends would not have gladly exchange places with him.”

Pearl goes through the motions at Howard and Freedman’s as she prepares for graduation. She reads and re-reads all of Chili’s letters. She hasn’t heard from him in months. She takes off her engagement ring and puts on her cap and gown. 

At commencement, Pearl’s name is called. She rises and walks to the stage. Charles walks towards her, leaning on a cane. 

They embrace. Happily ever after.