Gimme it! Yo’ yere—?
LUCY BELLE
I give yo’ nuffin’!
SLIM(grabbing her by the wrist)
Come on! Gimme two dollahs!
LUCY BELLE(fiercely)
No, no—! Slim—le’ go! W’at’s de mattah wid yo’! Le’ go!
SLIM
Gimme it, or I’ll twis’ yo’ damn arm off! (He slowly twists her wrist.)
LUCY BELLE(crying out in pain and fright)
Oh, mah Gawd! Slim! Slim! Stop—! Le’go! Don’—I’ll kill yo’ fo’ dis!
SLIM(between his teeth)
Git it! Git it!
LUCY BELLE
Slim! Fo’ Gawd’s sake! Oh, mah soul—don’—don’—(Writhing with torture, she sinks to her knees.)
SLIM
Yo’ wan’ me ter twis’ it off—?
LUCY BELLE(choking with pain)
A-all right—Stop! All right, Slim. I’ll git it fo’ yo’!
SLIM
Will yo’—?
LUCY BELLE
Yas, yas. Stop—please—! Lemme up—lemme up—Slim—
(He slowly turns her wrist back to normal and relaxing his grip somewhat allows her to rise. She stands limp and dazed for several moments, as though endeavoring to pull herself together. She draws her free hand slowly across her forehead.)
SLIM(with savage impatience)
Come on!
(He tightens his hold somewhat. She gives a little cry of pain, and her knees give. With Slim still gripping her wrist, she moves unsteadily to table, Center.)
LUCY BELLE
All right—all right, Slim. I’ll git it fo’ yo’—.
(He drops her wrist. She opens the small drawer of the table and takes out an old and worn leather pocket book. She extracts two one-dollar bills, hands them to him, then deftly stuffs the pocket book down in one of her stockings. Slim jams the bills into his pocket, turns and moves swiftly to the door, Back, and goes out.)
LUCY BELLE(crying out after him)
Yo’s a dirty dog! I—I’ll git yo’ fo’ dat—!
(Lucy Belle sinks down into a chair and covers her face with her hands. She looks up once and her face presents the picture of fierce, tearful rage. Presently a knock sounds on the door, Back. Lucy Belle jumps up with a start. The knock sounds again.)
LUCY BELLE(in faltering tones)
Come in!
(The door opens and Chick Avery enters. He is a weak-faced, but passably good-looking mulatto, of about thirty-five. He wears a suit of smart clothes, somewhat the worse for wear. His feet are encased in a pair of patent leather shoes which are slit aboutthe toes to relieve the pressure on those members. He is partially bald, but what remains of his straight, jet-black hair is shiny from the generous use of hair oil, and is carefully brushed to cover the bald spots as much as possible. His manner for the most part, is extremely urbane and, by fits and starts, exuberantly mirthful.)
CHICK(doing a sort of clog dance toward her)
H’yo’, Luce—!
LUCY BELLE(exclaiming in mild surprise)
Why—why, ’lo, Chick—!
CHICK
How’s de baby—?
LUCY BELLE
Pretty good, I reckon.
CHICK
All by yo’ lonesome—?
LUCY BELLE
Look like it, don’ it?
CHICK
W’at d’yo’ know—?
LUCY BELLE
Nuffin’ much—! (He puts his arm around her and attempts to draw her to him.) Stop yo’ foolin’—! (She pulls away from him.)
CHICK
Ain’ yo’ got a kiss fo’ me?
LUCY BELLE
I’ll bus’ yo’ in de nose, Chick Avery!
CHICK
Mah soul, but yo’ gittin’ skittish—! How much dey cos’ now?
LUCY BELLE
Mo’ den yo’ kin pay.
CHICK(with an explosive laugh)
Sam got yo’ gwine, ain’ he?
LUCY BELLE
Good thin’s come high.
CHICK
Yo’ said somefin’! (Sitting on the edge of the table.) How he makin’ out in Baltimo’—?
LUCY BELLE
Who—?
CHICK
Sam.
LUCY BELLE
Oh—oh, he ain’ makin’ out so bad.
CHICK
Git home often?
LUCY BELLE
Onct or twict a week—depen’s on hard dey’s wukkin’ him.
CHICK
An’ yo’ stick home an’ wuks yo’ haid off.
LUCY BELLE(shortly)
I does mah share.
CHICK
Nevah seen yo’ lately w’en yo’ was’n’ played out from wukkin’ yo’ haid off.
LUCY BELLE(querulously)
None-a yo’ bus’ness how hard I wuks! (Sharply.) W’at yo’ doin’ now?
CHICK
Barbarin’. Jes’ git a job on de Norfolk boat.
LUCY BELLE
W’at doin’?
CHICK
Same thin’—barbarin’. Dey’s got two chairs. I’se gwine ter run one-a dem. Starts in nex’ week. Got a chanct ter make some real money, now.
LUCY BELLE
Sho’ soun’ like a mighty good job.
CHICK(pointedly)
Yo’ allas tied up ter some niggah dat make yo’ wuk like hell.
LUCY BELLE
Shet up! Yo’ don’ know w’at yo’ ’s talkin’ ’bout. Ev’body got ter wuk hard dese days ter git by.
CHICK(satirically)
Is dey?
LUCY BELLE
Ef dey’s any good, dey is! W’at yo’ gittin’ at anyway?
CHICK
I’se allas been yo’ lef’ han’ed budigee—.
LUCY BELLE
’Deed yo’ ain’ been nuffin’ but a frien’!
CHICK
Dat’s w’at I means. (With a significant smile.) Ef I been yo’ real budigee, I sho’ nevah make yo’ wuk like yo’ is!
LUCY BELLE(derisively)
No! Yo’d make me wuk like a dog.
CHICK
Not on yo’ life!
LUCY BELLE
Make me git out an hussle while yo’ lays home an’ guzzle gin.
(They both laugh explosively. Lucy Belle unbends somewhat.)
CHICK(surveying her critically)
Yo’ gittin’ ole, Luce—
LUCY BELLE(sharply)
So is yo’! Look at dat damned ole haid ob yo’s. Noder yeah an’ yo’ won’ have a hair lef’.
CHICK(gives an explosive laugh, and runs a hand over his head)
Dat’s no lie! (Throwing back his shoulders.) De older I gits de bettah I feels.
LUCY BELLE
So does I!
CHICK(pointedly)
Been ter any dances?
LUCY BELLE
Don’ care nuffin’ ’bout dancin’ no mo’.
CHICK(with a little exclamation of incredulity)
Uster be crazy ’bout it!
LUCY BELLE
Uster be crazy ’bout a lot-a thin’s.
CHICK
Membah dat dance ob de Golden Eagle Club at de ole Mawnin’ Star?
LUCY BELLE(with a reminiscent smile)
Sho’ do—!
CHICK
Somebody th’u’ a beer bottle—
LUCY BELLE(in joyous memory)
An’ miss yo’ by free inches!
(They both laugh uproariously.)
CHICK
Mah soul! Dat was some night! Git home ’bout seven o’clock in mawnin’.
LUCY BELLE(with just a note of wistfulness in her tones)
Still have dances up dere?
CHICK(exclaiming)
Do dey? ’Bout ev’y night. (In ardent admiration.) Yo’s de bes’ lil’ dancer I evah knowed.
LUCY BELLE
Go ’long! (She drops down into a chair, gives a little sigh and stares abstractedly into space.)
CHICK
Membah de time we goes down ter Rivahview an’ comin’ home de ole boat gits stuck on dem mud flats dere by de Eastern Branch—?
LUCY BELLE
’Deed I does! (In ecstatic memory.) We dance on de deck—in de moonlight—
CHICK(with a rapturous chuckle)
Ole Beverly Johnson chase Mink Hall wid a razor—
LUCY BELLE(laughing)
Mink jump ovahboard an’ swim ter shore!
CHICK(laughing)
Great day! An’ membah de fair down at—er—lessee—Manassas?
LUCY BELLE(nodding)
Eat chicken an’ duck an’ co’n pone an’ icecream till I neahly bus’! Ride on de merry-go-roun’—shoot de shoots—an’ sing an’ dance till I kain’t hardly stan’ up—! Den dey was preachin’ ovah in de grove at night—(She breaks off—lost in the romantic memory of it.)
CHICK
Bet yo’ ain’ had no times like dem since!
LUCY BELLE(deprecatingly)
I was jes’ a kid den.
CHICK
Dere’s gwine ter be a dance at de Mawnin’ Star termorrer night.
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ gwine—?
CHICK
Sho’! Come on an’ go wid me.
LUCY BELLE(shaking her head)
Nuffin’ doin’.
CHICK(earnestly)
Come on! W’at’s dis settin’ ’roun’ de house gittin’ yo’—? Jes’ dis onct fo’ ole times’ sake.
LUCY BELLE(shaking her head more emphatically)
Nuffin’ doin’, Chick. No use ter axe me.
CHICK(slides off the table and moves to her side)
Luce—jes’ dis onct—!
LUCY BELLE(loudly)
No—!
(Pause. Chick surveys her ruefully. Lucy Belle glowers at him.)
CHICK(at length)
Den come on ovah ter Gerner’s an’ have a glass-a gin.
LUCY BELLE
Not ternight, Chick.
CHICK
Yo’ tired—an’ it set yo’ up great.
LUCY BELLE
Not ternight.
CHICK
Dey got a phonograph in de back room an’ we kin have a couple-a lil’ dances. Ef yo’ kain’t go ter de Mawnin’ Star—yo’ kin leas’ git yo’se’f in a lil’ dance ovah dere.
LUCY BELLE
No, no—!
CHICK
Come on! Jes’ fo’ ole times’ sake! Good Lawd, yo’ got ter git out an’ have a lil’ fun now an’ den. Yo’ kain’t stick home yere all de time! (Puts a hand on her arm.) Come on, baby—!
LUCY BELLE
Nuffin’ doin’—!
(A loud knock sounds on the door, Back. Lucy Belle jumps up and stands listening.)
CHICK(in a low voice)
Who dat—?
LUCY BELLE(shaking her head)
Don’ know.
(The person outside kicks the door violently. An expression of dire apprehension comes into Lucy Belle’s face. She swings about, points at the door, Left, and speaks in peremptory tones.)
LUCY BELLE
Git in dere a minute.
CHICK(in low, guarded tones as he hurries toward Left)
Is it Sam—?
(She shakes her head. Chick goes out, Left. Lucy Belle, after a moment or two of deliberation, advances warily toward the door, Back. When almost there she halts again, as though debating whether or not to answer the door. Suddenly the kicking is renewed with increased vigor. Lucy Belle draws back shudderingly, as though to turn and flee. Abruptly the door opens and Jeff Bisbee lunges in. He slams the door shut after him. He is a short, stocky Negro of about thirty—brown in color—with a short, thick neck, a bullet head and a mean, leering manner.)
LUCY BELLE(with a gasp of terror)
Jeff—!
JEFF
I knowed I’d find yo’—! (Swaying toward her menacingly.) W’at yo’ leave me fo’?
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ know why—!
JEFF
Sneak off like a cat—!
LUCY BELLE
I was starvin’ ter deaf—.
JEFF
Like hell yo’ was!
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ was’n’ wukkin—.
JEFF
Yo’ know why!
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ did’n’ want ter—!
JEFF
I’ll bus’ yo’ in de mouf! (Takes a step toward her.) I was havin’ some hard luck den.
LUCY BELLE
Dat’s w’at yo’ allas say. It was allas hard luck—or somefin’!
JEFF(pulls back an arm as though to strike her)
Yo’ knows I was! Could’n’ git nuffin’—!
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ did’n’ ha’f try.
JEFF
Yo’ lie—! Times was hard. Look fo’ a monf—an’ could’n’ fin’ nuffin’—! (As though he were on the point of leaping upon her and choking her.) Watched yo’ chanct—did’n’ yo’—?
LUCY BELLE
No, no—!
JEFF
Watched yo’ chanct—an’ run—! Did’n’ stop ter figur’ w’at I’d done fo’ yo’—!
LUCY BELLE(with a cry of derision)
Yo’ nevah done nuffin’ fo’ me—!
JEFF
Yo’ be on de streets ef it had’n’ been fo’ me! (Lucy Belle sneers audibly.) Did’n’ have no mo’ sense den a chicken—!
LUCY BELLE
Ain’ on ’em now, is I?
JEFF
It ain’ yo’ fault—!
LUCY BELLE(her tones gradually becoming more and more tremulous)
Yo’ crazy—!
JEFF
Watch till mah back is tuhned—an’ run ter anoder niggah.
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ dreamin’—!
JEFF
I got de dope on yo’—an’ got it right—!
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ think yo’ have—!
JEFF
Yo’ come yere ter Sam—!
LUCY BELLE
No, no—!
JEFF
Come yere ter dat damned ole loon! Beat it ter de man dat git me sent up! Dat’s de way yo’ pay me back, huh—?
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ don’ know w’at yo’ talkin’ ’bout—!
JEFF
Livin’ yere wid him—!
LUCY BELLE
No, no—!
JEFF(savagely)
Don’ yo’ go lyin’ ter me—! I knows! Yo’ kain’t put nuffin’ ovah on me! (She starts to back away from him.) Yo’ yere—? (He grabs her by the arm.)
LUCY BELLE(pulling away from him)
Jeff—please—
JEFF(menacingly)
Come yere—!
LUCY BELLE(getting around to the other side of the table)
Jeff—please—
JEFF
Yo’ gwine wid me—!
LUCY BELLE
No, no—!
JEFF
An’ yo’ gwine damn quick!
LUCY BELLE
Jeff—fo’ Gawd’s sake—!
JEFF
I’se gwine back ter Havre de Grace in de mawnin’ an’ yo’ gwine wid me—!
LUCY BELLE(defiantly)
I ain’ gwine nowhar wid yo’!
(Jeff reaches in a back pocket, whips out a knife, snaps open the blade, and poises it in the air.)
JEFF
I’ll cut yo’ God-damn heart out!
LUCY BELLE(terror-stricken as he makes a move to come around after her)
Oh, mah Gawd, Jeff—! Don’—don’—! (Puts a hand to her throat, and glances wildly about, struggling for self-control.) Jes’-a minute—
JEFF(savagely)
Come on—!
LUCY BELLE
Mah clothes—!
JEFF
Git ’em—git ’em!
LUCY BELLE
An’ de chillen—!
JEFF
Ter hell wid dem—!
LUCY BELLE
Got—got ter leave ’em wid somebody.
JEFF(sardonically)
Leave ’em wid Sam.
LUCY BELLE(as though she hadn’t heard his remark)
Got ter leave ’em wid somebody dat kin see after ’em right.
JEFF
Git busy den!
LUCY BELLE(after a moment of tense, anguished deliberation)
I—I reckon I could leave ’em wid Aun’ Becky—
JEFF
Who she?
LUCY BELLE
Ole woman—live down de alley yere.
JEFF
Hussle.
LUCY BELLE(after a moment of hesitancy)
Dey’re in yere. Got ter git ’em ready. (Moves swiftly toward the door, Left. Jeff takes a step or two, as though he were going to follow her. She pauses as she places a hand on the door knob.) Only take a minute.
(She opens the door quickly, slides out and closes it. Something about her manner and the quickness with which she closes the door rouse Jeff’s suspicions. He stands—body tense—glaring after her. Absolute silence ensues. The lock in the door clicks. With a cry of rage Jeff leaps forward and tries to force the door open.)
JEFF(ferociously)
Open de do’! Open it—or I’ll knock yo’ haid off! Open it! (Muttering and cursing to himself he puts his shoulder against it and presses hard, but it fails to yield.) Open up! Open up!
(Baffled, at length he turns away, springs to Left Center, and grabs up a chair. Realizing, however, that it is perhaps not quite heavy enough for his purpose, he slowly sets it down, stands with his hands resting on its back, and looks about in search of a more formidable weapon. Suddenly shouts, the footsteps of people running, and the noises of panicky commotion issue from the alley, immediately off stage, Back. It proceeds down the alley, Left, and the noise rapidly lessens in volume, and distinctness. All at once the door, Back, bursts open and Slim dashes in. He bangs the door shut after him, and stands wild-eyed and breathing heavily.)
JEFF
W’at’s de mattah—?
SLIM(with a gulp—as he recognizes Jeff)
Po—po-lice!
JEFF(lowering his voice and becoming markedly wary and tense)
Po-lice—? Who dey aftah?
SLIM
Raid Messer’s stable—down de alley yere—
(Someone runs heavily down the alley. Slim springs back and stands in a crouching attitude. Jeff leaps over to the table and blows the light out.)
JEFF
Crap game—?
SLIM
Yas.
JEFF
Git anabody?
SLIM
Don’ know.
(The noise and clatter recede continually, off Left. At length Slim advances cautiously to the door, Back, opens it and peers out. Jeff goes over and stands near him.)
SLIM
At de oder end-a de alley, now.
JEFF
See yo’ w’en yo’ runs?
SLIM
Sho’—! Slew-foot know me, too. He one-a dem. Liable ter come back dis way an’ search ev’y house.
(He opens the door wider and leans far out. A pale light filters in from Back. The silhouettedfigures of the two men can be plainly seen. Jeff joins Slim in the doorway and peers out.)
SLIM
I’se gwine ter beat it.
(Slim darts off down the alley, Right. Jeff stands tensely deliberating for several moments. Finally he steps out, and with a swift movement closes the door after him. Almost immediately the door, Left, opens and a broad shaft of light falls across the room from the doorway, Left, to the wall, Right Back. Lucy Belle enters, followed closely by Chick. They leave the door open and pause, Right Back, in the full beat of the light.)
CHICK(as they move to Right, Back)
Oughter shot him in his tracks—! (Taps his hip pocket.)
LUCY BELLE(shaking her head violently)
I done tol’ yo’ dat yo’ done right—stickin’ dere an’ keepin’ yo’ mouf shet.
CHICK(with simulated bravado)
Sartainly like ter git dat bird.
LUCY BELLE
Gawd, no! Don’ wan’ no killin’s ’roun’ yere.
CHICK
Yo’ bettah beat it.
LUCY BELLE(breathing quickly)
Ain’ no place ter go—.
CHICK
Plenty ob ’em—! Hun’erd’s—!
LUCY BELLE
Ain’—ain’ got no strenf—! (Draws a hand across her forehead.)
CHICK
Buck up! Yo’ got ter git out-a yere—!
LUCY BELLE
Oh—oh, Gawd! Somefin’ like dis allas got ter happen.
(Chick skips over to the door, Back, opens it and peers up and down the alley.)
LUCY BELLE
See anabody—?
CHICK(shaking his head)
No. (He closes the door and returns swiftly to her.) He liable ter come back any minute.
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ reckon so—?
CHICK
Sho’ as yo’ bawn!
LUCY BELLE
I kain’t go runnin’ ’roun’ de streets—
CHICK
We kin go ter some place neah.
LUCY BELLE
—Not feelin’ like I does.
CHICK
Yo’ ain’ gwine ter stay yere an’ let him kill yo’!
LUCY BELLE
He ain’ gwine ter kill me!
CHICK
Damn soon see ef yo’ stick yere!
LUCY BELLE
Sho’ ter see us in de street.
CHICK
We got a chanct ter run dere.
LUCY BELLE
He’s some runner hisse’f.
CHICK
He ain’ gwine ter do nuffin’ outside—wid de cops aroun’. (She deliberates.) Look at yo’! Tremlin’ like a leaf!
LUCY BELLE(with a little hysterical sob)
I know—I know—
CHICK
Yo’ needs a good swig-a gin—
LUCY BELLE
Ain’—ain’ got a bit in de house.
CHICK
Come on ovah ter Gerner’s—
LUCY BELLE
Kain’t leave de chillen.
CHICK(with a little laugh—as though recalling her subterfuge with Jeff)
Carry ’em ovah ter Aun’ Becky’s.
LUCY BELLE
I know—but yo’ see—
CHICK
Yo’ crazy ter stick yere—’less yo’ wan’ me ter hang ’roun’ an’ plug him fo’ yo’—
LUCY BELLE
Nuffin’ like dat—!
CHICK
Den come on—! Good drink set yo’ up jes’ right.
(Lucy Belle takes a faltering step or two toward the door, Left. Just then someone passes the window, Left Back, and heavy footsteps on the pavementof the alley can be heard. Lucy Belle halts. She turns and faces the door, Back. It opens and Sam Reed enters. He is a big powerful Negro—dark brown in color—and about thirty-five. He wears an old, torn suit of clothes, carries an old felt hat, and is without a collar. His manner is straight-forward, well-meaning, kindly. His movements and speech are deliberate—except when he is angry.)
SAM(peering forward through the dim light at them)
Luce—!
LUCY BELLE(with a cry of mingled joy and agitation)
Sam—!
SAM (closing the door and moving slowly down to Center)
H’yo’—?
LUCY BELLE(leaps to his side and grabs his arm)
Sam—Sam-boy! Jes’ talkin’ wid—wid Chick Avery yere—yo’—yo’ knows Chick—
CHICK(circumspectly)
H’yo’, Sam.
(Sam glowers at Chick for a moment before replying.)
SAM(at length—with ill grace)
H’yo’—!
LUCY BELLE
Light de lamp, Chick. (To Sam.)Po-lice raid a crap game down de alley—an’—an’ we puts out de light.
(Chick strikes a match and lights the lamp on the table, Center.)
LUCY BELLE(in eager vibrant tones of affection as she gazes up at him)
Sam-boy, I’se so glad ter see yo’! How is yo’?
SAM
Pretty good.
LUCY BELLE
Did’n’ hardly ’spec’ yo’ ternight.
SAM
Shower come up an’ we quits early.
LUCY BELLE
Gawd bless yo’—! (Casting about for something to relieve the constraint of the situation somewhat, she spies his hat, grabs it and begins to industriously dust it off with her sleeve.) Mus’-a been playin’ football wid dis ole hat.
SAM(with a contemptuous glance at Chick)
I’se been doin’ a man’s wuk.
LUCY BELLE(with a forced, nervous laugh)
Been standin’ on yo’ haid!
CHICK(doing a light clog dance toward the door, Back)
On mah way, Luce. See yo’ some mo’.
LUCY BELLE
W’at’s yo’ hurry—?
CHICK
Got some bus’ness ter ’tend ter—ovah at Gerner’s. (Gives an explosive laugh.)
(Lucy Belle makes a wry face, and finally breaks into a little nervous giggle.)
LUCY BELLE
Goodbye, Chick. See yo’ some mo’.
CHICK(over his shoulder)
See yo’ some mo’, Sam.
(Sam nods glumly and grunts. Chick goes out, Back.)
SAM(sharply)
W’at he doin’ ’roun’ yere—?
LUCY BELLE
Jes’—jes’ drap in ter say “howdy”.
SAM
Don’ wan’ nobody like him hangin’ ’roun’.
LUCY BELLE
He—he’s an ole frien’-a mine.
SAM(nodding)
Damn pool room spoaht!
LUCY BELLE
No, no, Sam-boy! He’s a barber—an’ makes good money. Wukkin’ all de time.
SAM
Nevah seen a barber dat was any good.
LUCY BELLE
He ain’ so bad. An’ he don’ come ’roun’ yere—oh, only onct in a long time. (Glancing toward the door, Left.) We keep on talkin’ like dis, dem chillen wake up an’ make a fuss.
(She hurries over, Left, and closes the door. Sam takes his pipe from his coat pocket, fumbles around in the other outside coat pocket, finds his bag of tobacco, pulls it out and begins painstakingly to fill the pipe. Meanwhile he follows Lucy Belle’s movements with an intent, questioning gaze.)
LUCY BELLE(coming back to him)
Honey-baby, been crazy ter see yo’—!
SAM(lays his pipe on the table and takes her in his arms)
Honey-baby! (Kisses her fondly.) Mah lil’ gal!
LUCY BELLE
Seem ter me I miss yo’ mo’ an’ mo’—!
SAM
Sho’ nuff—?
LUCY BELLE
Lonesome yere widout yo’.
SAM(playfully)
Go ’long!
LUCY BELLE(shaking her head)
So lonesome some days dat I don’ know w’at ter do.
SAM(patting her cheek)
Po’ lil’ baby-budigee—!
LUCY BELLE
Hones’, kain’t seem ter git uster yo’ bein’ away.
SAM
Jes’ remembah dat I misses yo’ as much as yo’ does me.
LUCY BELLE
I know, Sam-boy—I knows yo’ does!
SAM(sits in a nearby chair and pulls her over on his knee)
Tain’ gwine ter be dis way long.
LUCY BELLE(with a little cry of joy)
Gee, w’en yo’ comes home like dis—an’ s’prise’s me—
SAM(laughing)
Make yo’ feel good—?
LUCY BELLEOh, Gawd—! (Strokes his hair fondly. Someone passes down the alley. She gives a start.)
SAM
W’at’s de mattah—?
LUCY BELLE(making a valiant effort to hide her agitation)
Nuffin’—!
SAM
Yo’ mus’ got de fidgets.
LUCY BELLE(nodding)
Maybe—from bein’ yere nights—alone. (Plaintively.) Oh—oh, Sam-boy, I don’ wan’ yo’ ter go ’way no mo’!
SAM(with puzzled impatience)
W’at yo’ talkin’ ’bout, gal?
LUCY BELLE
I don’ wan’ yo’ ter go ter Baltimo’ no mo’—!
SAM
Honey-baby, I got ter git back on de job!
LUCY BELLE
No, yo’ ain’—.
SAM
W’at’s de mattah wid yo’? Is yo’ crazy—?
LUCY BELLE
Dat ain’ de onliest job in de worl’—
SAM
Dat don’ make no diff’rence.
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ kin git somefin’ yere.
SAM
Walk de streets agin like I did las’ monf?
LUCY BELLE
Thin’s ain’ so slow now.
SAM
Slower den dey evah was!
LUCY BELLE
So hard on me bein’ yere alone—an’ wid de chillen.
SAM
Kain’t he’p it, honey-baby. Jes’ got ter keep gwine ’long like we is—’till thin’s break bettah.
LUCY BELLE
Wukkin’ hard—?
SAM
Sho’ is!
LUCY BELLE
Diggin’ in de streets ain’ no kind-a job fo’ yo’.
SAM
Bettah den nuffin’.
LUCY BELLE(feelingly, as she strokes his hair again)
I knows dat yo’ doin’ all yo’ kin—! Gawd bless yo’—! But I wan’s ter be wid yo’, Sam-boy honey-baby—all de time.
SAM(his tones vibrant with emotion)
An’ I wan’s yo’ wid me—!
LUCY BELLE
Den—le’s go ter Baltimo—now—
SAM
W’at yo’ mean—?
LUCY BELLE
Next week.
SAM
Next week—?
LUCY BELLE
Er—er maybe de week aftah. We been figurin’ on gwine dere all ’long. But le’s don’ wait till yo’ git somefin’ steady. Yo’ kin’ allas git somefin’.
SAM(turning the thing over in his mind)
I don’ know, honey—
LUCY BELLE
Sho’ yo’ kin! I don’ wan’ ter stay yere no longer widout yo’. Please—!
SAM
Cos’ a lot ter move.
LUCY BELLE
We could sell off some de furn’ture—an’ maybe jes’ take rooms—
SAM(nodding)
Yas—perhaps.
LUCY BELLE
Sho’ we could!
SAM
Got ter fin’ de rooms fust.
LUCY BELLE
Dat gwine ter be easy ’nuff.
SAM
Nex’ week, yo’ say—?
LUCY BELLE
Or de week aftah!
SAM
Make it de week aftah.
LUCY BELLE(kissing him)
Yo’ will—!
SAM
I reckon so—!
LUCY BELLE
Gawd bless yo’—!
SAM
Do—do mos’ anathin’ dat gwine ter make yo’ happy!
LUCY BELLE(embracing him)
Honey-baby! (Draws back suddenly and searches his face anxiously.) Is yo’ had any suppah? (He smiles and shakes his head.) Co’se yo’ ain’! W’at’s de mattah wid me! Great day!
SAM
I ain’ so hangry.
LUCY BELLE
Hush yo’ mouf, an’ lemme git down ter dat sto’. (She grabs up a little shawl from a nearby chair and throws it over her head.)
SAM
Got any money—?
LUCY BELLE
A lil’, I reckon.
(Sam reaches in his pocket, pulls out a bill and hands it to her.)
SAM
Yere.
LUCY BELLE
Thanks, honey. Be right back. Ef Israel hollers go in dere an’ beat him.
(Sam nods. She goes out hurriedly, Back. Sam reaches over on the table, picks up his pipe and lights it. A knock sounds on the door, Back.)
SAM
Come in!
(The door, Back, opens and Lizzie Gibbs enters. Sam twists about to see who it is.)
LIZZIE(doing a sort of languorous muscle dance as she advances)
H’yo’, Sam?
SAM(harshly—glowering at her)
W’at yo’ wan’?
LIZZIE(unctuously)
I draps ’roun’ dis way—now an’ den—ter see ole frien’s.
SAM(laying his pipe on the table and rising)
Yo’ does, does yo’?
LIZZIE
Jes’ see yo’ gittin’ off a car down on Four-an’-a ha’f Street. (She waits a moment or two for him to speak, but he doesn’t offer to proceed with the conversation.) How is yo’?
SAM
All right.
LIZZIE
Long time since I seen yo’.
SAM
Reckon it is.
LIZZIE
Ain’ seen yo’ since yo’ git back from Atlanta.
SAM
No—yo’ ain’.
LIZZIE
Tol’ me yo’ gwine down here fo’ a few weeks—!
SAM(his manner gradually becoming defiant)
Long as I ’spected ter stay.
LIZZIE
Yo’ nevah come back!
SAM
Got a good job.
LIZZIE
Las’ a long time, did’n’ it?
SAM
Long as I wan’s it!
LIZZIE
Nevah send me wud—or nuffin’—!
SAM
Yo’ knows why!
LIZZIE
I wish ter Gawd I did!
SAM
Don’ stan’ up dere—an’ talk like a fool.
LIZZIE
Tell me—tell me—!
SAM
I ain’ got no time fo’ no gal like yo’.
LIZZIE
Sam—w’at yo’ got so agin me?
SAM
Yo’ know!
LIZZIE
’Deed I don’!
SAM
I ain’ studyin’ ’bout no gal dat fights—an’ raises hell—
LIZZIE
I know—sometimes I uster—w’en I got mad—But I nevah meant no harm, Sam-boy—