ACT 1
Scene 1
The year is 1936. The play begins at 5am with loud knocking on the door of the house in Pittsburgh’s Hill District where Doaker Charles lives with his niece, Berniece, and her young daughter, Maretha. Doaker opens the door, and his nephew, Boy Willie, enters with Boy Willie’s childhood friend Lymon. The two men have driven a broken-down truck full of watermelons from Mississippi to Pittsburgh, hoping to earn the money that Boy Willie needs to purchase land in Mississippi that belonged to a white man named Sutter, who has recently died. Berniece enters, annoyed that Boy Willie is making noise. Skeptical about his plan, she returns upstairs, and Boy Willie reveals to Doaker that he also intends to sell the family piano. Doaker tells him that Berniece will never sell it, but they are interrupted by Berniece, screaming that she has seen Sutter’s ghost. Doaker investigates but sees nothing. Maretha meets Boy Willie. Avery, a part-time preacher and friend of Berniece’s, arrives. Boy Willie asks Berniece about the piano, but she flatly refuses to sell it.
Scene 2
Doaker’s older brother, Wining Boy, is visiting Doaker. Boy Willie and Lymon enter, and the four men chat casually, reminisce, and sing. Doaker tells the others about the history of the piano. He also explains that Sutter was killed by the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog. Boy Willie suggests to Lymon that they try to move the piano, but when they attempt it, everyone hears Sutter’s ghost. Berniece enters, and she and Boy Willie get into a heated argument. They are interrupted by Maretha’s terrified screams from upstairs
ACT 2
Scene 1
Doaker irons his work pants as he sings. Wining Boy enters, and Doaker admits to him that he saw Sutter’s ghost three weeks earlier. Boy Willie and Lymon arrive in high spirits, having sold most of the watermelons. Wining Boy sells Lymon what he claims is a “magic” suit of clothes, and Lymon and Boy Willie head out on the town.
Scene 2
Later that evening Berniece is preparing her bath, but Avery comes to the door. They have a long conversation, during which Avery proposes marriage, but Berniece tells him that she isn’t ready.
Scene 3
Late that night, Boy Willie enters with Grace, a woman he has met that evening. They hope for a romantic encounter, but Berniece comes downstairs and asks them to leave, which they do. Lymon arrives, and he and Berniece have a long conversation that ends with a kiss before Berniece goes back upstairs while Lymon prepares to sleep on the couch.
Scene 4
[Spoilers Ahead!]
Next morning Boy Willie returns. He awakens Lymon, telling him that he has found a buyer for the piano, but when they attempt to move the piano, they can’t budge it (seemingly because Sutter’s ghost is resisting their efforts). Doaker enters and tells them to stop. They leave, but Boy Willie tells Doaker that they’ll be back.
Scene 5
Boy Willie tells Maretha about the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog. He and Berniece continue arguing. Avery arrives to bless the house and drive out Sutter’s ghost, but before he can do so, Lymon arrives, then Wining Boy, then Grace. When Boy Willie and Lymon attempt to move the piano, all of the characters suddenly sense Sutter’s presence. Avery tries to bless the piano but cannot do so. Ultimately Berniece is able to exorcise the ghost and achieve peace for her troubled family.