No, no! He ain’ even in town no mo’. It’s all a dirty lie! Lizzie allas blackguardin’ me—don’ yo’ know she is—evah since yo’ an’ me met up! She say anathin’—anathin’ at all ter git back at me.
(They re-enter, Left.)
SAM(grabbing her by the shoulder and swinging her around full-face to him)
Yo’ is seen Chick Avery!
LUCY BELLE
No—no—I ain’—sweah ter Gawd I ain’! Aw, Sam, yo’ believes yo’ honey-baby, don’ yo’?
(A tense pause. He stares down at her as though trying to read the truth in her eyes.)
SAM(at length)
Ef she keep on blackguardin’ yo’, I’se gwine ter kill her!
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ ain’ gwine ter boder ’bout her—or nobody, Sam-boy! We gwine ter git ’way from all dem ole niggahs like her—quick as we kin! Ain’ we, honey-baby? (Fondly.) Bes’ ole buddy in de worl’! I wan’s yo’, Sam—jes’ yo’—nuffin’ else.
SAM(muttering)
I’ll clean up fo’ dat gal!
LUCY BELLE
Yo’ loves me, don’ yo’?
SAM(impulsively taking her in his arms and clasping her tightly to him)
Yo’s all I got in de worl’! Ef yo’ fools me, I’ll tuhn bad fo’ life.
LUCY BELLE
Sam, mah budigee baby, mah ole Sam-boy baby! Ain’ nuffin’ on Gawd’s earf I would’n’ do fo’ yo’! (Earnestly, as she stares up into his face.) Yo’ an’ me’s gwine ter Baltimo’ right ’way quick—ain’ we?
(Sam nods)
SAM(fondly)
Honey-baby! Honey-baby!
(Aunt Rebecca rushes in excitedly, Back.)
AUNT REBECCA
Lucy Belle! Mah Gawd! Lucy Belle! Is yo’ crazy? Dey fish him out—de baby! Oh, mah Gawd!
(Lucy Belle gives a stifled cry and breaks away from Sam.)
SAM
Baby! W’at d’yo’ mean?
(A tense silence of several seconds. At length Sam divines her meaning. Aunt Rebecca staggers back—under the stress of the sudden realization of what the consequences of her revelation are likely to be. Lucy Belle stands at one side, moaning softly. Sam rushes at Aunt Rebecca, hits her and knocks her out through the door, Back. She screams. He rushes over, closes the door and locks it.)
SAM(rushing at Lucy Belle)
Damn yo’ black heart ter hell! (She gives an unearthly shriek.) Yo’ will double-cross me! Dis is de way yo’ pays me fo’ all I done fo’ yo’!
LUCY BELLE(dropping to her knees)
Sam—Sam—boy—listen! Lemme tell yo’! Oh, Gawd! It ain’—
SAM(grabbing her)
I’ll show yo’ how ter play dat kin’-a game!
LUCY BELLE(frantically)
Sam! Sam!
SAM
I’ll fix yo’!
(He takes her by the throat and slowly chokes her to death. She struggles desperately to free herself. At length she grows quiet and her body limp. He throws her on the floor, stands gazing at her for a moment or two, grabs up his hat, slinks to the door, Back, unlocks it, opens it cautiously and goes out, closing it after him.)
CURTAIN