Bono and Troy sit on the porch drinking, which they do every Friday evening. Troy discusses talking to the union about allowing Black workers to drive garbage trucks instead of just lifting. Bono asks Troy about the women he gives attention to, right when Troy’s wife Rose enters. We learn that their son Cory plays football, and Troy used to be a prominent baseball player. Troy does not want Cory to get caught up in football recruitment. Bono tells Troy that he “came around too early” since Negros can play baseball professionally now. Troy gets angry and defensive and drinks more heavily.
The following morning, Troy is frustrated that his son Cory is at football practice instead of helping him build the fence around their house. Gabriel, Troy’s mentally ill brother, enters and says that Troy’s name is in St. Peter’s book, and he’s going to heaven. We learn that the Maxons had enough money to buy their house from Gabriel’s payout after his war injury.
Cory gets home from practice, and Troy immediately demands he work with him on the fence. Cory tells Troy he nearly got a job at the grocery store, but he had to turn it down because of his football practice. Troy insists he go back to the store and ask for the job anyway, and forget about football. Cory, upset, asks his father why he doesn’t like him. Troy says it’s not his job to like him, but simply his responsibility to provide for him, just as it’s Cory’s responsibility to obey him. Cory leaves. Rose has been listening all the while; she begs Troy to let Cory play football. Troy refuses.
Another Friday, two weeks later, Troy comes home from work and announces that he has been promoted to be a garbage truck driver. Rose insists again that Troy let Cory get recruited for football. Troy tells his other son, Lyons, and his friend Bono about how selfish and abusive his own father was, causing him to leave home when he was only fourteen and lead a tumultuous life. Cory comes home in his football uniform, distressed. It is revealed that Troy had gone to the school and told the coach Cory can no longer play on the team.
Bono and Troy talk about an affair Troy has had. Troy tells Rose he’s having a baby with another woman. He says he felt like he was stuck standing in the same place for 18 years and wanted an escape. Rose says she was standing there with him the whole time and invested everything in him. She goes to leave, but Troy grabs her arm violently. Cory enters from the house and shoves Troy off of her. Troy cautions Cory to stay away from him or he’ll face violent consequences.
Six months later, Rose begs Troy not to go to the bar after work the next day. Troy refuses. Rose confronts him about having Gabriel committed to the hospital. He insists it was a mistake on the hospital’s part and not his fault because he couldn’t read the form. They get a phone call; Alberta, the mother of Troy’s baby, has died in childbirth. Troy vows to finish building the fence to keep death out of his home.
Three days later, Troy comes home with the baby girl. He asks Rose to take care of her. Rose agrees, but specifies: “This child got a mother. But you a womanless man.”
Two months later, things are awkward and disjointed at the house. Troy drinks more often. While Troy is drunk on the steps, Cory needs to pass him to get inside the house, and pushes by without saying excuse me. This angers Troy. Cory says, “You don’t count around here no more.” Their argument turns physical. They wrestle. Cory grabs the bat, and Troy overpowers him and nearly hits him, but instead tells Cory to leave his house for good.
We jump ahead to 1965, the day of Troy’s funeral. Raynell, Troy’s daughter, is now seven years old. Cory has joined the Marines and returned home. He reunites with his family, but tells Rose he’s not going to Troy’s funeral. Cory feels haunted by his father’s shadow. Rose assures Cory that he has the best parts of Troy in him and expresses gratitude for their marriage, despite Troy’s actions. Rose goes into the house to make a call. Raynell asks Cory about a song their father used to sing, and they sing the whole song together. Gabriel enters; he has been let out of the hospital for the funeral. He tells St. Peter to open heaven’s gates for Troy.
The front porch of the Maxon house in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1957.
Place in August Wilson’s American Century Cycle
Fences is the sixth play chronologically in August Wilson’s Century Cycle, taking place in the 1950s. It was written in 1985 and produced at Court Theatre in 2006.
A Note for Teachers
This play features strong language, including racial slurs, and moments of violence. Please prepare students accordingly.
