The Project Gutenberg EBook of Goat Alley, by Earnest Howard Culbertson This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: Goat Alley A Tragedy of Negro Life Author: Earnest Howard Culbertson Release Date: November 14, 2016 [EBook #53530] Language: English Character set encoding: UTF-8 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GOAT ALLEY *** Produced by David Edwards, Cindy Horton and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) Transcriber's Note: Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. GOAT ALLEY GOAT ALLEY A TRAGEDY OF NEGRO LIFE _By_ ERNEST HOWARD CULBERTSON [Illustration] CINCINNATI STEWART KIDD COMPANY PUBLISHERS COPYRIGHT, 1922, BY STEWART KIDD COMPANY [Illustration] _All rights reserved_ All acting rights, both amateur and professional, are fully protected under copyright law and are reserved by the author. Application to produce GOAT ALLEY must be made to him, in care of the publishers, Stewart-Kidd Company, Cincinnati. Printed in the United States of America THE CAXTON PRESS TO FREDERIC AND ALICE MULHERN ROBINSON INTRODUCTION In a dingy little hall on a side street Mr. Ernest Howard Culbertson began rehearsals of “Goat Alley,” his tragedy of Negro life in a Washington slum. The actors were, with one exception, amateurs--colored working people who gave their time and services for the sake of what they felt to be an artistic expression of the life of their race. The author had no sociological intention; he had no ambition to be a propagandist. He had not even a special interest in the racial problem. He thought that he had come upon an action that has the quality of tragic inevitableness. He thought, furthermore, that tragedy does not reside in pomp and circumstance, but in the profound realities of human helpfulness and human suffering, and that poor Lucy Belle struggling to maintain her spiritual integrity in Goat Alley was a protagonist worthy of the sternest art and the largest sympathy. He built up his action from within. He saw that the Negro cannot yet hope, like the white man, to transcend common standards. He must first reach them. Hence the Negro girl’s struggle for her own integrity is not yet the struggle of Nora or Magda--the struggle to be true to herself; it is the struggle to remain true to the man of her real choice. To transcend a necessary order one must first have achieved it. The achievement of social order in the moral sense is therefore the right and necessary aim of the Negro proletarian and the right and necessary theme of a drama dealing with his life. In the play, Lucy Belle fights valiantly her losing fight. Loneliness, poverty, ignorance, terror, drive her from disaster to disaster, from one unwilling infidelity to another. But she never wavers in her soul. In her utter confusion and failure she kills the child that stands between her and all her hopes and at once expiates that action with her own death. Neither the subject nor the circumstances are new. But novelty is no mark of fine literature. The motives, the people, the place, the color of life--these are new. Every triangle play is a “Medea”. There are subjects that are classical because they are native to the character and circumstances of mankind. Such is the subject of “Goat Alley”. The structure is pure and uncompromising. No American play has had a finer or truer moment than that at the end of the second act when Lucy Belle, her lodger lost, her money stolen, her child crying with hunger, consents quietly, yet in such despair, to rent her vacant room to the worthless, ingratiating barber. Hauptmann would not have disdained that quiet moment of rich, tragic implications; Galsworthy would have approved it. No competent observer will fail to note here the evidence of an effort as serious, as intelligent, as sensitive to the character and quality of what makes tragedy as our recent theatre has produced. LUDWIG LEWISOHN. New York, July, 1921. GOAT ALLEY CHARACTERS Lucy Belle Dorsey Slim Dorsey Sam Reed Aunt Rebecca Lizzie Gibbs Jeff Bisbee Chick Avery Jeremiah Pocher Fanny Dorsey } _Children_ Israel Dorsey } Baby Policeman GOAT ALLEY was first publicly presented at the Bijou Theatre, New York City, on the evening of June 20, 1921. ACT I _The curtain rises on the sitting-room of a Negro’s squalid dwelling in Goat Alley, Washington, D. C. At Right Back, there is a door giving directly on the street and when it is open one gets a glimpse of the miserable, tumble-down houses on the opposite side. At Left Back is a window, with one pane broken and an old shirt stuffed in the hole. The one or two old rag-carpet rugs which lie on the floor serve only in a small measure to cover its bareness. Several old, broken and battered chairs stand here and there about the room. At Left Center is a door leading into the other downstairs room of the house. Between it and the wall, Back, is a door opening into a closet._ _There is another door, down Right, giving on a flight of stairs which lead to the one upper room of the house. Near the door, Left Center, and toward the front stands a battered table on which lie, in disordered array newspapers and one or two dog-eared books with their backs off. It is evening and a lighted oil lamp, with the chimney badly smoked, rests in the center. The wick is turned low and the guttering flame causes countless shadows to disport themselves eerily about the room. Between the door, Left Center, and the door, up Left, stands a fancy cupboard. There is a large easy chair between the table and the wall, Left Center. Both of these pieces of furniture look out of place in the room._ _Flamboyant lithographs, a gilt-framed picture of Jack Johnson, wearing his golden smile, a framed engraving of Abraham Lincoln, and several grotesque crayon portraits of members of the family adorn the dirty and discolored walls. An old corset, a half-eaten roll, and a doll, with its head off, lie about on the floor. A horseshoe is nailed over the center of the door, Back._ _Aunt Rebecca, an old coal-black Negress, enters, Back. She wears no hat and has just a shawl thrown over her shoulders. She presents the appearance of an animated mummy. Her eyes are small and bead-like and shine with an uncanny lustre; her hands are long and bony, resembling the talons of a hawk. She glances about inquiringly, gives an impatient grunt, then turns and slowly closes the door._ AUNT REBECCA (_in high-pitched raspy tones as she moves to the Center_) Lucy Belle! Oh, Lucy Belle! LUCY BELLE (_from the next room_) Dat yo’, Aun’ Becky? AUNT REBECCA Yas, honey. LUCY BELLE Jes’ a minute. Changin’ mah skirt. (_Aunt Rebecca drops into a chair, Left Center, and begins a weird and doleful chant._) AUNT REBECCA Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble! (_High treble_) Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! (_Lucy Belle enters, Left. She is a frail, light brown young Negress of about twenty-eight. She has a nervous, hesitant--and sometimes wistful--manner. She wears a plain black waist and a black skirt, patched in several places._) LUCY BELLE (_feelingly, as she kisses Aunt Rebecca_) Aun’ Becky! I’se so glad ter see yo’ agin! ’Deed I is! (_Draws up a chair and sits near her._) AUNT REBECCA (_affectionately_) Po’ful glad ter see yo’, honey! LUCY BELLE Seem like ole times--seein’ yo’! Lessee--how-some long yo’ all been ’way? AUNT REBECCA (_reflectively_) Um! Um! (_Puts a hand to her head and purses her lips._) Dat gin got mah haid all tangle up! Um! Keep tellin’ G’orge whiskey suit me bettah--but he like gin. How long? Um! Um! Gawd-a-massy! Be a yeah in Feb-wary! (_Lucy Belle exclaims incredulously._) LUCY BELLE Go ’long! AUNT REBECCA Sho’ has! I--I was free mon’s in Cumberlan’ wid Sadie--she dat slim yallow one, yo’ know--got a mole on dis cheek. (_Indicates._) Some say dat de reason she so lucky. I ain’ sayin’. Up dere mos’ six mon’s wid Em’ly--she dat fat brown gal. (_Lucy Belle nods._) An’ den I reckon ’bout fo’ mon’s in Frederick wid Henry. (_Throws back her head proudly._) Henry great big fine lookin’ niggah. Ain’ so lucky, dough. Bawn in de da’k ob de moon. LUCY BELLE I ’member him. I ’member seein’ him ’roun’ yere w’en his fader died--ole Uncle Henry,-- AUNT REBECCA (_scornfully_) Huh! Dat niggah was’n’ his fader. No, indeedy! Dat lil’ scrootchin’ monkey was’n’ calc’lated ter be de fader ob no boy like Henry. (_Lucy Belle gives an exclamation of surprise. Aunt Rebecca sits in perplexed preoccupation for several moments. At length she speaks very slowly--dragging out the words, one after another._) AUNT REBECCA ’Deed chile, I kain’t seem ter ’member who Henry’s fader was. Dat gin got mah haid so tangle up. LUCY BELLE Lot done happen since yo’ been ’way. AUNT REBECCA Don’ I know it! Don’ I know it! (_Fanny Dorsey, a little Negro girl of eight, and Israel Dorsey, a little Negro boy of four, run in, Left._) FANNY Mamma! Yo’ all gwine ’way? LUCY BELLE I ain’ gwine nowhar. ISRAEL Mamma! Git me some candy! LUCY BELLE (_harshly, as she rises_) Yo’ all hush! I ain’ gwine ter git yo’ nuffin! FANNY Mamma! I wan’ ter go out an’ play wid Gordy! LUCY BELLE Shet up! Yo’ ain’ gwine ter play wid nobody! Git in dere an’ git ter bed! Go ’long! Yo’ yere me? (_Threateningly._) Wan’ me ter beat yo’? ISRAEL Mamma! Git me-- (_Lucy Belle grabs them roughly and pushes them through the door, Left, closing it after them. Their cries are heard for several moments and then gradually cease._) LUCY BELLE (_irritably_) Some day I’se gwine ter git good an’ mad an’ knock dere haids off! AUNT REBECCA How’s Sam--? LUCY BELLE (_drops down on a chair near Aunt Rebecca and exclaims ecstatically_) Jes’ great! Aun’ Becky, he’s de bes’ ole budigee in de worl’! AUNT REBECCA Ain’ nobody got nuffin’ on Sam. LUCY BELLE Yo’ said it! Jes’ as good ter me as he know how ter be. Do ev’ythin’ I ask him. AUNT REBECCA Don’ haf ter tell me dat. LUCY BELLE He’s de onlies’ niggah I evah loved. AUNT REBECCA Don’ make ’em no bettah den Sam. LUCY BELLE He’s mah honey-baby, buddy boy! AUNT REBECCA (_with a good-natured chuckle_) Listen ter yo! LUCY BELLE (_her face clouding_) But he ain’ had such good luck lately--. AUNT REBECCA How come dat--? LUCY BELLE I dunno--. Till ’bout a monf ago he wuk steady fo de Simpson Express Company. Drive a wagon fo’ dem. AUNT REBECCA Dat w’at he doin’ w’en I lef’. LUCY BELLE Sho’, sho’--. Good job, too. But de wuk gits slack--an’ dey lets him out. AUNT REBECCA Go ’long! LUCY BELLE He try an’ try ter git anoder job--but could’n’ seem ter fin’ nuffin’. Times is bad, yo’ know. Neah walk his feet off jes’ seein’ ef he kain’t git somefin’ by de day. AUNT REBECCA Yo’ don’ say! LUCY BELLE Sam’s as steady as dey make ’em. Ef he ain’ wukkin he jes’ ’bout goes crazy. AUNT REBECCA Don’ I know it. LUCY BELLE So finally he up an’ gwine ter Baltimo’--an’ gits a job wid de Street Departmen’--diggin’ ditches fo’ wattah mains. AUNT REBECCA In Baltimo’--! LUCY BELLE Yas, indeedy! I been at him fo’ a long time ter go ovah dere. AUNT REBECCA Yo’ is--! LUCY BELLE Aun’ Becky, dey’s some niggahs ’roun’ dis town--dat jes’ watchin’ dere chanct ter blackguard him an me--git back at us any way dey kin. AUNT REBECCA (_with a little snort_) Go ’long, now--w’at yo’ talkin’ ’bout. LUCY BELLE Dey sho’ is--! An’ jes as soon as he git somefin’ steady--an’ dat pay a lil’ bettah we gwine ter move ovah dere. AUNT REBECCA (_with a wail_) Gawd-a-massy, w’at yo’ po’ ole Aun’ Becky gwine ter do! LUCY BELLE Be mighty sorry ter leave yo’, Aun’ Becky--! AUNT REBECCA (_with facetious fervor_) Why, chile, w’at yo’ ’spose I done come back ter Wash’nin’ fo’? LUCY BELLE I know yo’ gwine ter miss me--an’ I’se gwine ter miss yo’--but it tain’ so far away dat I kain’t git ovah--now an’ den. An’ yo’ kin come ovah an’ see me--! AUNT REBECCA (_shaking her head_) Lawsy, lawsy--dat’s de way. Jes’ as soon as yo’ git ter likin’ somebody--dey up an’ gwine ’way. LUCY BELLE It gwine ter be bes’ fo’ bof ob us, Aun’ Becky--! AUNT REBECCA I reckon yo’ know--but jes’ de same-- LUCY BELLE An’--an’ terday I feels mo’ like we got ter git ’way den evah. AUNT REBECCA How come dat--? LUCY BELLE Yo’ know Sam ain’ nevah had nuffin’ much ter do wid oder gals. AUNT REBECCA (_with a nod_) He don’ look like he ’ud chase ’em much. LUCY BELLE He don’! He ain’ dat kin’! But--but fo’ de las’ free weeks dey’s a gal dat he uster know--long time ago--keep comin’ ’roun’ yere. AUNT REBECCA Go ’long! LUCY BELLE Her name Lizzie Gibbs--an’ she de hardes’ ole yallow gal yo’ evah seen. AUNT REBECCA She come ’roun’ yere--! LUCY BELLE Sam only gits home onct or twict a week--mos’ly only onct. I allas goes ter de do’ w’en he’s yere--an’ ef she come--he duck upstairs fo’ she kin lay eyes on him. AUNT REBECCA Would’n’ stan’ fo’ nuffin’ like dat! LUCY BELLE W’at yo’ gwine ter do? She so hard she liable ter do anathin’. She--she was yere dis mawnin’. She say she gwine ter keep comin’ ’till she see Sam. AUNT REBECCA Gawd-a-massy! Put de _po_-lice on her--! LUCY BELLE (_shakes her head_) Ef I do dat, she liable ter make trouble-- AUNT REBECCA W’at trouble kin she make ef dey locks her up? LUCY BELLE She might make trouble ’tween me an’ Sam--ef she’s a min’ ter-- AUNT REBECCA ’Tween yo’ an’ Sam--! Go ’long! LUCY BELLE Sam don’ care no mo’ fo’ her den he do a rat--but she crazy jealous-- AUNT REBECCA ’Co’se she is--an’ dat’s de reason-- LUCY BELLE (_touches Aunt Rebecca on the knee_) I tell yo’ why I got ter go easy wid her--till I see mah way out. Maybe yo’ kin he’p me-- AUNT REBECCA Sho’--! LUCY BELLE Yo’ see she’s de onlies’ one ob all dem blackguardin’ niggahs dat uster live ’roun’ me ovah dere in Carter Street--fo’ I moves yere ter Goat Alley--(_Breaks off and stares sombrely into space for several moments, then proceeds with a slight catch in her voice._) Aun’ Becky, I’se had it hard. Ain’ nevah had much luck--’deed I ain’--’cept meetin’ up wid Sam agin. AUNT REBECCA Yo’ ain’ nevah tol’ me much ’bout yo’se’f. LUCY BELLE Nevah tol’ nobody--much. W’at’s de use? AUNT REBECCA Go on! W’at’s on yo’ min’? LUCY BELLE Mah moder died w’en I’se fifteen--an’ Pap goes off ter Texas an’ I ain’ nevah seen him since. Slim--mah bro’der--he was jes’ a lil’ kid--baby mos’--an’ I did’n’ have no oder people. AUNT REBECCA Bless yo’ soul--! LUCY BELLE Done mos’ anathin’ I could--jes’ ter make a livin’. Wuk in laundries, cook, wait on tables--. Starts gwine ’roun’ wid de boys, too. Yo’ know how a gal is. Meets up wid Sam an’ Jeff Bisbee an’ Ed Cales--an’ a bunch-a oders like dem. Jeff hang ’roun’ aftah me mos’ all de time--an’ Sam do, too. Sam allas a wuk steady--but Jeff, he nevah wukked ’less he had ter. He’s--he a hard niggah--allas drunk, an’ fightin’ an’ shootin’ crap. But--well--yo’ know how a gal is--(_Aunt Rebecca grunts and nods._) He looks good ter me, kase he wear swell clothes, an’ spend money free, an’ boas’ how many cops he cut. Was’n’ long, dough, fo’ Jeff git crazy jealous-a Sam--an’ one day--down yere in Four-an’-a-ha’f Street--dey meets up an’ has a fight. (_As though somewhat thrilled by the memory of it._) Man-day, but dey flew at each oder! Like a couple-a wildcats! But de _po_-lice bus’ in on ’em. Dey ketch Jeff--but Sam git away. AUNT REBECCA Mah soul--! LUCY BELLE Jeff gits six mon’s in de wukhouse. I meets up wid Sam a few days aftah. Like de fool I is--I ’cuses him ob startin’ de fight. AUNT REBECCA Hush yo’ mouf! LUCY BELLE I did’n’ know who did--’zactly--but I was sore kase Jeff was in jail. He been takin’ me ’roun’, yo’ see--spendin’ lots-a money on me--an’--an’--Oh, well I jes’ a damn fool, kase I ain’ got nobody ter look aftah me. (_Shakes her head remorsefully._) Sam gits mad--an’ quits comin’ ’roun’ ter see me. Tells me, now, dat he git de idea dat I didn’t care nuffin’ at all ’bout him. All de time he crazy ’bout me! (_Pauses a moment in reverent thought._) He was livin’ ovah in M Street. Ole Lizzie Gibbs livin’ dere, too. Dat’s whar he meets up wid her. She had been foolin’ ’roun’ aftah him fo’ a long time. Aftah dat scrap me an’ him had, he gits so down in de mouf dat he takes up wid her fo’ a while. AUNT REBECCA Dat ole yallaw gal yo’ jes’ tellin’ me ’bout? LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) Yas. But only fo’ a lil’ while--he say. He seen right away how hard she was--an’ dat she was’n’ no good--an’ he draps her like a hot tater. AUNT REBECCA Reckon he would--! LUCY BELLE Den he decides ter beat it--an’ goes off ter Atlanta. Stays dere five yeahs. Only come back yere ’bout a yeah ago. AUNT REBECCA An’ yo’ ain’ seen him--all dat time? LUCY BELLE No. AUNT REBECCA Gawd-a-massy! LUCY BELLE But he say he was thinkin’ ’bout me all de time! Nevah fo’git me an’ nevah seen any oder gal dat he like bettah! (_Shakes her head._) An’ I sho’ nevah did fo’git him! Ef I’d only stuck ter him. Would’n’ have had ha’f de trouble I is. Yo’ see--yo’ see, aftah he’d been gone a while I began ter see w’at a good fellah he’d been. (_Pauses a moment in sombre thought._) While Jeff was in de wukhouse I marries Ed Cales. He uster bootblack on de Avenue an’ carry sample cases fo’ drummers. Fo’ a lil’ while he drive a wagon fo’ a white man dat run a meat stan’ on Louisiana Avenue. But mos’ de time he don’ do nuffin’ but lay ’roun de house. (_Contemptuously._) He wasn’ no good--jes’ a loafin’, no-count niggah dat lay ’roun an’ let a gal wuk fo’ him--long as she would stan’ fo’ it. I lives wid him two yeahs. Den one day he say he gwine down ter Richmon’ fo’ a few days, beats it off--an’ I ain’ nevah seen him since. AUNT REBECCA Yo’ lucky ter git rid-a him so easy! LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) ’Deed I was! (_Sighs heavily._) ’Bout free mon’s aftah dat I meets Jeff Bisbee ovah in Gerner’s one day--an’--an’ he walks home wid me. I’se livin’ ovah in Carter Street den. (_Gives a little nervous shudder._) He shoot off his mouf great. Tol’ me how much he think-a me--an’ dat I is de onlies’ gal dat evah got him goin’--an’ all dat kin’-a stuff. He say dat he broke--but dat he ’spec’ ter collec’ some money in a week or two--an’ dat he don’ know w’at he gwine ter do till den. Begs me ter let him stay dere wid me fo’ a few days. (_Drops her head and sighs._) I finally does. De longer he stay de harder he git, an’ by-an’-by he say ef I don’ let him stay dere all de time he gwine ter kill me. He say ef I call de _po_-lice he gwine ter lay fo’ me--an’ watch his chanct--night an’ day--till he git me. Hones’, I gits so scar’t I did’n’ hardly know w’at ter do. An’--an’ so he keeps livin’ on dere wid me--an’ I keeps thinkin’ mo’ an’ mo’ ’bout Sam--an’ wishin’ I’d stuck ter him--an’ dat I knowed whar he was. AUNT REBECCA ’Deed, honey, I knows how yo’ must-a felt. LUCY BELLE He wuk in a livery stable ovah on C Street fo’ a while. Couldn’ git him ter do nuffin’ steady. Mos’ de time he jes’ lay ’roun’ de house an’ guzzle gin--guzzle gin--an’ w’en he ain’ doin’ dat, he out in de alley shootin’ crap wid Mink Hall an’ Slim an’ dat gang. AUNT REBECCA He wuss den no-count! LUCY BELLE I was a fool, I knows--ter stick ter him. ’Deed I was! But I’se so scar’t an’ down in de mouf dat I ain’ got good sense. (_Aunt Rebecca nods sympathetically._) All de time Jeff keep gittin’ harder an’ harder. An’ me wukkin’ mah haid off ter feed him an’ de chillen. Ev’y onct in while he gits mad an’ beats me up. Finally I’se pretty neah crazy. One night w’en he’s away I gits mah broder Slim ter come ovah an’ he’p me. We packs ev’ythin’ up an’ moves ovah yere--an’ I did’n’ tell nobody whar I was gwine. AUNT REBECCA Yo’ look like yo’ had somefin’ on yo’ min’--dat fust day I seen yo’ yere! LUCY BELLE ’Deed I did! (_Shakes her head._) Ain’ seen hide nor hair-a him since. (_Abruptly, after a moment or two of troubled thought._) Yo’--yo’ see, Aun’ Becky, ef dey’s anabody in de worl’ dat Sam hate--it--it Jeff Bisbee-- AUNT REBECCA Sho! Sho! LUCY BELLE Hate him like poison! (_Hesitatingly._) I--I ain’ nevah tol’ him dat I live wid Jeff. AUNT REBECCA Yo’ ain’--? LUCY BELLE Ain’ had de nerve! He know dat I married Ed Cales--an’ I tol’ him mos’ ev’ythin’ else--an’ he say w’at is pas is pas’. But yo’ see it was Jeff dat bus’ him an’ me up befo’--an’ he call him de hardes’ niggah in Wash’nin’-- AUNT REBECCA Any way ob him findin’ out--? LUCY BELLE Only ef somebody tell him. AUNT REBECCA Who know--? LUCY BELLE Slim, an’ dem people in Carter Street, an’ ole Lizzie Gibbs-- AUNT REBECCA She know--? LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) Sho’. AUNT REBECCA Den’ yo’ bettah watch out--kase ef she like w’at yo’ tell me she ain’ gwine ter keep it to herse’f. LUCY BELLE I reckon she ain’--an’ dat’s w’at got me so worried. Yo see, she yere Sam talk so much ’bout me dat it make her crazy jealous. W’en he gwine ’way ter Atlanta, she figure dat ef he come back he mos’ likely come ter me fust. Leas’-ways dat w’at I think she figure. So she move ovah dere ter Carter Street, an’ take a house near me, wid de idea dat maybe she kin bus’ me an’ Sam up--ef he come back. I was married ter Ed Cales den--but aftah while I takes up wid Jeff--like I done tol’ yo’--an’ all de time she’s watchin’ me like a hawk widout me knowin’ it--. AUNT REBECCA Tryin’ ter git somefin’ on yo’--! LUCY BELLE Sho’! An’ now--now dat she found out whar I live--an’ dat he’s back--she’s comin’ at me agin--! AUNT REBECCA Put de _po_-lice on her! LUCY BELLE Den she boun’ ter tell Sam--an’ lie an’ blackguard on me wuss den evah--! Don’ yo’ see--? (_Twining and intertwining her fingers and staring into space with a distraught expression._) I don’ know w’at ter do! (_The children suddenly give vent to shouts and can be heard romping wildly in the room, off Left._) LUCY BELLE (_rising_) Listen ter dem chillen--! (_Moving toward, Left._) ’Scuse me while I puts dem ter bed. (_Aunt Rebecca sits in a brown study._) AUNT REBECCA (_as Lucy Belle nears the door, Left_) Lucy Belle--! LUCY BELLE (_pausing_) Yas. AUNT REBECCA Who de fader ob Fanny? LUCY BELLE Ed Cales. (_Hesitatingly_) Is-Israel is--is Jeff’s. (_Aunt Rebecca grunts and nods. Lucy Belle goes out, Left. Aunt Rebecca sits pondering for several moments and then begins to chant._) AUNT REBECCA (_chanting_) Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! (_A knock sounds on the door, Back. Aunt Rebecca glances toward the door and gives an annoyed grunt. The knock sounds again. Aunt Rebecca gets up, grumbling to herself, goes to the door and opens it. Lizzie Gibbs steps in. She is a large, voluptuous, mulatto woman. She has straight hair, high cheek bones, and large coarse features. Her manner is over-bearing and insolent._) LIZZIE H’yo’--? AUNT REBECCA (_surveying her with an air of frank suspicion and disapproval_) W’at yo’ wan’--? LIZZIE (_swaggering down toward Center with her hands on her hips_) Sam Reed live yere, don’ he--? AUNT REBECCA None ob yo’ bus’ness weder he do or weder he don’--! LIZZIE (_savagely_) Go ’long, yo’ ole black wench! Don’ yo’ give me no back talk! (_Glaring at her malevolently._) Don’ yo ’spose I knows he live yere--! Is he home? AUNT REBECCA (_sullenly_) Don’ know. LIZZIE Whar is he--? AUNT REBECCA Don’ know. LIZZIE Yo’ don’ know nuffin’, d’yo’--? (_Aunt Rebecca stands glaring fiercely at Lizzie. Lucy Belle can be heard in the next room speaking to the children._) LIZZIE Lucy Belle’s yere, _ain’_ she--? AUNT REBECCA (_shortly_) I reckon so. LIZZIE Tell her I wan’ ter see her. (_Aunt Rebecca hesitates for a moment, then shuffles over toward the door on the left, and goes out. Lizzie swaggers about the room, examining various objects with an expression of sardonic contempt. Presently Lucy Belle enters, Left--falteringly._) LIZZIE (_pausing, hunching herself down on one hip, and gazing at Lucy Belle with an expression of sneering venom_) ’Lo Luce! LUCY BELLE W’at yo’ wan’--? LIZZIE (_with an explosive, sardonic laugh_) Listen ter yo’--! LUCY BELLE I--I done tol’ yo’ dat I don’ know whar Sam is! LIZZIE (_harshly_) Look yere, gal, d’yo’ think yo’ puttin’ somefin’ ovah on me? LUCY BELLE Dat’s de Gawd’s truf--I’m tellin’ yo’. LIZZIE Tryin’ ter make out he ain’ nevah yere--! LUCY BELLE He ain’--! Hones’-- LIZZIE Yo’ lie--! Yo’ knows whar he is--an’ w’en he come home as well as yo’ standin’ dere--! LUCY BELLE I ain’ seen him in Gawd knows w’en--! LIZZIE People in de neighborhood tell me dey see him yere ev’y few days--! LUCY BELLE Dey crazy--! Shootin’ off dey moufs ’bout somefin’ dey don’ know nuffin’ ’bout--! LIZZIE Does yo’ think yo’ gwine ter salt him away--an’ nevah let nobody lay eyes on him agin? LUCY BELLE W’at ’ud I be doin’ anathin’ like dat fo’--? LIZZIE (_mockingly_) Yas--w’at would yo’ be doin’ anathin’ like dat fo’--? LUCY BELLE Nevah git away wid it--ef I did! LIZZIE An’ yo’ ain’ gwine git away wid nuffin’ like dis--neder! LUCY BELLE Yo’ don’ know w’at yo’ talkin’ ’bout--! LIZZIE I’se knowed Sam as long as yo’ is. LUCY BELLE Who say yo’ ain’--? LIZZIE Yo’ stan’ dere an’ act like somebody was gwine ter steal him--right from under yo’ nose--! LUCY BELLE I don’ know w’at yo’ talkin’ ’bout--! LIZZIE (_mockingly_) No--yo’ don’ know nuffin’--! To yere yo’ talk, yo’d think yo’ owned Sam--got him chain up like a dawg--! Mah soul--! (_Vehemently._) Listen ter me, gal--he’s an’ ole frien’-a mine--an’ I wants ter see him--’bout some bus’ness--an’ ef yo’ know w’ats good fo’ yo’--yo’ bettah quit dis lyin’ an’ beatin’ ’roun’ de bush--an’-- (_Footsteps and whistling are heard off stage, Back. Lizzie breaks off abruptly and both stand listening. A moment later the door, Back, opens and Slim Dorsey enters. He is a tall, slender, light-colored Negro of about twenty-four. He wears a cap pulled around so that the visor slants over one ear, and an old ragged suit of clothes. He glares at Lizzie and nods._) SLIM (_as he slouches toward Left Center_) ’Lo Luce. LIZZIE (_as she sidles toward the door, Back--to Lucy Belle_) Yo’ yered w’at I said--! Dat goes bof ways--an’ all ’roun’ de squah. (_With a hand on the doorknob_). Jes’ remembah dat I’se knowed yo’ a good while, too. (_With drawling, veiled menace._) Is--is yo’ evah tol’ Sam how much yo’ love Jeff Bisbee--? (_Lucy Belle’s body becomes rigid, she clenches her hands, and speaks in a choking voice._) LUCY BELLE Yo’--yo’ shet up--! LIZZIE (_with a bellowing, sardonic laugh_) Ha! Ha! Why don’ yo’ tell him someday--? (_She goes out, Back._) LUCY BELLE (_violently_) Damn her! I’se gwine ter break ev’y bone in her body--ef she keep aftah me! SLIM W’at’s de mattah--? LUCY BELLE She--she de hardes’ ole gal in Wash’nin-- SLIM Jes’ fin’ dat out--? LUCY BELLE Allas gwine ’roun’ makin’ trouble fo’ somebody--! SLIM W’at she comin’ at yo’ ’bout--? LUCY BELLE (_slowly gets control of herself--and ponders for a moment_) Oh--oh, nuffin’--! SLIM Aftah Sam--ain’ she--? LUCY BELLE She think she is--! SLIM Bettah watch her--! LUCY BELLE Don’ yo’ worry--I is! (_She goes to the window, Left Back, and peers out, then turns and comes slowly down to Center._) SLIM How is yo’--? LUCY BELLE I don’ know--not so good dis week--! SLIM Whar Sam--? LUCY BELLE Baltimo’--! W’at d’yo’ know--? SLIM A lot. (_He takes a bag of tobacco and a package of papers from his pocket and proceeds leisurely to roll a cigarette._) LUCY BELLE W’at--? SLIM (_as he painstakingly rolls the cigarette_) Seen Jeff dis mawnin’--. LUCY BELLE (_with a gasp_) Jeff--! Jeff Bisbee--! SLIM (_with a nonchalant nod_) Sho’ nuff--! LUCY BELLE (_clutching his arm_) Whar--? SLIM Bennings--. LUCY BELLE De race track--. SLIM Yas. LUCY BELLE Did he see yo’--? SLIM Sho’ he seen me--! LUCY BELLE Say anathin’--? SLIM (_nodding_) Come up an’ grab me. LUCY BELLE Gawd sakes--! SLIM Wan’ ter know right off whar yo’ is. LUCY BELLE Yo’ did’n’ tell him--? SLIM W’at de hell yo’ take me fo’? LUCY BELLE W’at did yo’ do? SLIM Tol’ him I did’n’ know nuffin’ ’bout yo’. LUCY BELLE (_gratefully_) Yo’ did, Slim--yo’ did--? SLIM W’at yo’ think I is--some kin’-a fool dat has ter be tol’ w’at ter say? LUCY BELLE No, no, Slim. But I thought maybe yo’ might-a been scar’t--an’ say somefin’ fo’ yo’ think. SLIM (_with a sneer_) Take somebody mo’ den him ter scare me. LUCY BELLE W’at did he do? SLIM Say he gwine ter fin’ yo’--he don’ care how long it takes. LUCY BELLE (_with a cry of anguish and indignation_) He bettah lay off me--! SLIM Say he gwine ter bus’ hell out-a yo’ ef yo’ don’ come back ter him. LUCY BELLE He ain’ gwine ter do nuffin’--! SLIM Picks up a fence rail an’ comes at me--kase I would’n’ tell him whar yo’ is--! LUCY BELLE Oh, mah Gawd! Hit yo’--? SLIM (_with contempt_) Been in de undertaker’s now ef he had. LUCY BELLE Did yo’ bus’ him--? SLIM I picks up a brick an’ dares him ter come at me. Mink Hall an’ some of mah oder buddies comes ’long right den an’ he beats it. (_With a laugh._) Mink makes a grab fo’ him an’ he jumps th’u’ a stable window. LUCY BELLE Ain’ seen or heard-a him fo’ so long--I been hopin’ dat he gone away fo’ good. SLIM Been follerin’ de races--norf an’ souf--fo’ de las’ yeah--so he say--an’ jes’ got in town yisterday. LUCY BELLE I knows he ain’ been ’roun’ Wash’nin’. (_Twining and intertwining her fingers, and her gaze roving abstractedly about._) I don’ care. He ain’ gwine ter do nuffin’. Me an’ Sam’ll be livin’ in Baltimo’ soon--maybe dis time nex’ monf-- SLIM Watch yo’se’f--. LUCY BELLE I sho’ is gwine ter! SLIM Don’ go travelin’ roun’ at night by yo’se’f. LUCY BELLE (_shaking her head_) Don’ yo’ worry--I ain’ gwine ter take no chances. (_A sudden look of apprehension coming into her face._) He gwine ter beat it right ovah ter Carter Street-- SLIM Nobody ovah dere know whar yo’ livin’. LUCY BELLE Nobody--nobody ’cept--(_She breaks off and stares fixedly before her._) SLIM Who--? LUCY BELLE Lizzie Gibbs. (_Aunt Rebecca enters, Left, and closes the door carefully after her._) AUNT REBECCA (_discovering Slim_) H’yo’, Slim. SLIM (_shortly_) ’Lo Aun’ Becky. AUNT REBECCA How is yo’? SLIM Fine an’ dandy. AUNT REBECCA (_to Lucy Belle_) Done put dem chillen ter bed fo’ yo’. LUCY BELLE (_gratefully, as she goes to her_) Thank yo’, Aun’ Becky,--sartainly mighty good-a yo’. AUNT REBECCA Dat’s all right. Israel ’sleep already-- LUCY BELLE Bof so tired dey could’n’ hardly stan’ up. (_Aunt Rebecca moves toward the door, Back._) LUCY BELLE Yo’ ain’ gwine--? AUNT REBECCA Mus’, chile. Jes’ drap in on mah way ter de sto’. Oughter been on mah way long fo’ dis. LUCY BELLE W’en I see yo’ agin? AUNT REBECCA May drap in later on dis evenin’. LUCY BELLE Do, honey, please--! AUNT REBECCA (_in a low voice--as they pause at the door_) Did’n’ put nuffin’ ovah on yo’, did she--? LUCY BELLE No, indeedy! An’ she ain’ gwine ter! AUNT REBECCA Dat’s talkin’! See yo’ some mo’. LUCY BELLE Yas, yas. Goodbye. SLIM See yo’ some mo’, Aun’ Becky. AUNT REBECCA Goodbye. (_She goes out, Back._) (_Lucy Belle closes the door and returns, slowly to Center. Slim has dropped into a chair, Right Center, and sits nonchalantly puffing away at his cigarette._) SLIM (_casually_) Luce-- LUCY BELLE Yas--? SLIM I’se broke. LUCY BELLE Dat ain’ doin’ me no good. SLIM I ain’ had nuffin’ ter eat since dis mawnin’. LUCY BELLE (_irritably_) I kain’t he’p dat. SLIM Len’ me a couple-a dollahs. LUCY BELLE I ain’ got no money ter len’ ter yo’. SLIM Yas, yo’ is--! LUCY BELLE Git out an’ git yo’se’f a job. SLIM I is got a job. LUCY BELLE (_incredulously_) Whar--? SLIM At de race track. LUCY BELLE W’at doin’--? SLIM Feedin’ hosses an’ rubbin’ ’em down. LUCY BELLE Den w’at yo’ come ’roun’ yere askin’ me fo’ money--? SLIM I only had it free days--an’ dey don’ pay till Saturday. LUCY BELLE I give yo’ a couple-a dollahs las’ Monday. SLIM Yo’ ’spec’ dat ter las’ me a week? LUCY BELLE I keeps givin’ yo’ money an’ givin’ yo’ money an’ yo’ ain’ nevah pay me back a nickel. SLIM I been playin’ in hard luck. LUCY BELLE So is I. SLIM (_rising_) Yo’ got money. LUCY BELLE Don’ make no difference weder I is or weder I ain’--. SLIM Ain’ I jes’ tol’ yo’ ’bout Jeff Bisbee--? LUCY BELLE No mo’ den yo’ had a right ter do! SLIM I did’n’ haf ter boder ’bout comin’ in yere. LUCY BELLE Yo’ be de meanes’ niggah in Wash’nin’ ef yo’ had’n’! SLIM Go on--he’p me out dis time. LUCY BELLE I tol’ yo’ Monday dat I ain’ gwine ter give yo’ no mo’ money! SLIM (_hotly_) De nex’ time I keep mah mouf shet! LUCY BELLE (_angrily_) Keep it shet! SLIM Yo’ damn right I will! LUCY BELLE An’ keep yo’ face out-a dis house! (_Harshly, as she surveys him with a glare._) Yo’ ain’ nevah done nuffin’ fo’ me--nuffin’ at all! SLIM Yo’ lie--! Ef it had’n’ been fo’ me yo’ been cleaned up a dozen times. LUCY BELLE (_with a derisive laugh_) Listen ter yo’! SLIM W’at ’bout dat time yo’s sick--? LUCY BELLE Yo’ wuk fo’ a week--an’ buy de stuff we eat. Nevah give me a cent! SLIM Yo’ died ef it had’n’ been fo’ me! LUCY BELLE Been sick a dozen times since den an’ yo’ ain’ raised a han’ ter he’p me! (_Harshly._) Yo’ ain’ no good, Slim--an’ yo’ ain’ nevah gwine ter be no good--’less yo’ change mighty quick. Yo’ nevah keeps a job ovah a week. All yo’ is good fo’ is ter guzzle gin, shoot crap an’ chase gals-- SLIM Go on blackguardin’ me--ef yo’ lookin’ fo’ trouble! LUCY BELLE I’se tellin’ de truf--an’ yo’ knows I is! SLIM (_loudly_) I tol’ yo’ I ain’ had nuffin’ ter eat since dis mawnin’. LUCY BELLE I’ll go down ter de sto’ an’ git some stuff. SLIM I ain’ got time ter hang ’roun’ yere while yo’ cooks it. LUCY BELLE All yo’ wan’s dat two dollahs fo’ is ter git in a crap game. SLIM (_advancing toward her menacingly_) Gimme some money! LUCY BELLE (_defiantly_) Nuffin’ doin’! SLIM 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 about the 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’ ice cream 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 silhouetted figures 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 pavement of 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 BELLE Oh, 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-- SAM How ’bout dat time ovah at yo’ sistah’s? LIZZIE (_penitently_) I know, I know--(_Lays a hand on his arm._) Fo’give me, Sam--! ’Deed I did’n’ mean nuffin’ den! SAM (_drawing away from her_) I ain’ boderin’ ’bout yo’, Lizz. LIZZIE (_passionately_) Listen, son, ain’ yo’ gwine ter fo’give yo’ ole budigee? SAM Go ’long ’bout yo’ bus’ness--. LIZZIE I’ll give yo’ money, Sam--! Give yo’ de bes’ eats in de worl’--! SAM Shet up! LIZZIE Sam--! SAM Yo’ an’ me done call it quits--long time ago. LIZZIE (_collects herself gradually, and draws back a step or two with a sardonic leer_) Done pass me up, huh? SAM Yo’ yered me. LIZZIE Pass me up fo’ dis lil’ wench. SAM (_flaring up_) Who yo’ talkin’ ’bout? LIZZIE Yo’ know--! SAM Who--? LIZZIE Lucy Belle. SAM Don’ yo’ go blackguardin’ her. LIZZIE I ain’ blackguardin’ nobody. SAM Den watch yo’ step! LIZZIE Fell fo’ her! Oh, mah Gawd! SAM Keep yo’ tongue off her! LIZZIE I knows her as well as yo’ do! Bettah--! SAM Yo’ don’--! LIZZIE I knowed her w’en she live ovah in Carter Street-- SAM Carter Street--? LIZZIE (_with a loud, rasping laugh_) W’en she livin’ dere wid Jeff Bisbee--! SAM (_with a shout which is a mixture of incredulity and menace_) Livin’ wid Jeff Bisbee--! LIZZIE Sho’! Big as life. SAM Yo’ lie--! LIZZIE Ain’ she tol’ yo’? Oh, mah Gawd! (_Gives a raucous, sardonic laugh._) Ask her--! She’ll tell yo’ all ’bout it! I knowed yo’d fall fo’ a wench like her! (_The door, Back, opens and Lucy Belle enters, carrying several small packages. An expression of blank dismay floods her face upon discovering Lizzie._) LIZZIE (_regarding her with an expression of leering vengeance_) H’yo’, Luce--! LUCY BELLE (_in a low, choking voice_) ’Lo--! (_Sam’s eyes are first upon one, then the other, in a gaze of fierce, tigerish scrutiny._) LIZZIE (_with a wink and a laugh as she slouches toward the door, Back_) Great lil’ gal, Sam--! LUCY BELLE (_angrily_) Yo’--yo’-- LIZZIE Go on an’ say it! I dare yo’--! SAM (_to Lizzie_) Shet up! LIZZIE (_with a leering smile_) So long, Sam. See yo’ some mo’. (_At the door, Back._) Good beatin’ w’at she need! (_She goes out quickly, Back. Lucy Belle advances to Center, and deposits her packages on the table._) LUCY BELLE (_studying Sam’s face with eager, pathetic anxiety_) Hardes’ ole gal in Wash’nin’! SAM (_fiercely_) She say yo’ live wid Jeff Bisbee--! LUCY BELLE (_agitatedly_) She--she say dat--? SAM (_advancing quickly to her side_) Did yo’--? LUCY BELLE Oh, Sam--I--I-- SAM Yo’ yere me? LUCY BELLE She--she hate me like sin--! SAM Did yo’--? LUCY BELLE Tryin’ ter git back at me--! SAM (_grabs her and jerks her to his side_) Did yo’ live wid him--? LUCY BELLE Oh, Sam-boy, honey-baby--! Don’-- SAM Did yo’--? LUCY BELLE (_with a sob_) Oh--oh, Sam--I--I ain’ gwine ter lie ter yo’-- SAM (_putting a hand on each of her shoulders, and staring down into her eyes with a look of scarce-believing, burning intensity_) Took up wid dat dirty skunk--? LUCY BELLE He made me--! SAM Yo’ lie--! LUCY BELLE He did--he did! Say he kill me ef I did’n’--! SAM An’ yo’ let him git away wid it--! LUCY BELLE Did’n’--did’n’ know w’at ter do--! SAM (_mockingly_) Did’n’ know w’at ter do! LUCY BELLE He kep’ aftah me--an’ kep’ aftah me-- SAM W’en--w’en? LUCY BELLE Aftah Ed leaves me. Yo’s in Atlanta. SAM An’ yo’ stick yere? LUCY BELLE I was ha’f sick--an’ did’n’ have no money. He--he had me so scar’t I was neah crazy. SAM (_in anguish_) Gawd--! LUCY BELLE Ha’f-out-a mah haid, honey--did’n’ know w’at I was doin’-- SAM Took up wid de wust niggah in de worl’--! LUCY BELLE I--I could’n’ help it--’deed I could’n’! SAM Swo’ I nevah touch anathin’ or anabody dat he lay a fingah on. LUCY BELLE Dat’s de reason I ain’ said nuffin’. SAM (_bitterly_) I reckon it is! LUCY BELLE I knowed how yo’ hate him. SAM (_harshly_) Dey don’ come no wuss. LUCY BELLE Treat me like a dog! SAM W’at kin’-a crazy fool is yo’? LUCY BELLE I done tol’ yo’. I was down an’ out--an’ scar’t ter deaf. SAM (_shaking his head_) Took up wid him--! LUCY BELLE I know, I know-- SAM Why did’n’ yo’ kill him? LUCY BELLE Gawd, I wan’ed ter--! SAM Why did’n’ yo’? LUCY BELLE Ev’y day I prays dat yo’ would come back. An’ I thinks ’bout yo’ all de time. Sam-boy, honey-baby, dey ain’ nevah been anabody but yo’--an’ nevah will be! (_Stretching out her arms to him._) W’en yo’ come back it seem too good ter be true. SAM Wish I nevah come back. LUCY BELLE Don’ say dat, Sam--don’--! SAM Whar was yo’ livin’--? LUCY BELLE Carter Street. SAM An’ he come ter yo’ dere? LUCY BELLE Yas. SAM An’ yo’ let’s him stay. LUCY BELLE Had ter--. (_Sam gives a short, savage laugh._) I--I only done w’at oder gals would-a done--ef dey been in mah place. I gits away de fust good chanct I gits. SAM How long yo’ live wid him? LUCY BELLE ’Bout yeah-an’-a-ha’f. (_In tender, appealing tones._) Honey-baby, I loves yo’--an’ I’se loved yo’ all de time--right from de fust. Yo’ knows I is! W’en me an’ yo’ hooks up yere--yo’ say w’at is pas’ is pas’! Don’ yo’ membah--? (_Sam nods._) An’ yo’ say dat yo’ ain’ been no angel--an’ yo’ knows I ain’-- SAM Did’n’ know yo’d been tied up ter anabody like Jeff. LUCY BELLE I done tol’ yo’ why I did’n’ say nuffin’. Oh, Sam-boy, I ain’ nevah come back at yo’ ’bout ole Lizzie Gibbs. I don’ hol’ dat agin yo’--even ef she do blackguard an’ lie on me. I ain’ nevah said nuffin’ ter yo’ ’bout it. Is I? SAM No. LUCY BELLE Den don’ hol’ dis agin me. It all happen fo’ me an’ yo’ hook up fo’ good. It’s pas’ an’ gone. Fo’give me. I ain’ nevah gwine ter keep nuffin’ back agin. Fo’give me, honey-baby--please fo’give me? SAM (_takes her in his arms and kisses her passionately_) Mah lil’ baby budigee! LUCY BELLE Yo’ does fo’give me, don’ yo’? SAM Yas, yas--! LUCY BELLE I knowed yo’ would. SAM Ef yo’ evah has anathin’ ter do wid anoder niggah I’se gwine ter kill yo’! LUCY BELLE No, no, Sam--nevah agin--! Don’ yo’ worry--! SAM (_with passionate fervor_) I loves yo’ bettah den anathin’ in de worl’--! LUCY BELLE (_ecstatically_) Sam-boy budigee! SAM I wants ter go on wukkin’ fo’ yo’-- LUCY BELLE Honey-baby! SAM An’ w’en anathin’ like dis come up-- LUCY BELLE I know, I know-- SAM Ef it had been anabody but Jeff-- LUCY BELLE But w’at is pas’ is gwine ter be pas’--! SAM (_repeating_) W’at is pas’ is gwine ter be pas’. An’ I’se gwine on wukkin’ fo’ yo’--an’ tryin’ ter make yo’ happy-- LUCY BELLE (_with a sob_) I knows yo’ is, ole Sam-boy, baby! SAM Yo’s all I got in de worl’. LUCY BELLE Yo’s all I got! SAM By-an’-by we gwine ter git nuff saved ter buy a lil’ place down neah Frederick--mah ole home. LUCY BELLE Yas, yas--jes’ as soon as we kin-- SAM An’ we gwine down dere an’ raise garden truck--an’ chickens--an’ _live right_-- LUCY BELLE Yo’ said somefin’! SAM De chillen’ll have plenty-a room ter play. An’ I kin take a day off now an’ go huntin’. (_Wistfully._) Still got-a lot-a possums down ’roun’ dere. LUCY BELLE Is dey--? SAM Heaps. (_With a sigh._) Yas, indeedy! We gwine down dere--an’ _live right_! (_The footsteps of someone coming rapidly down the alley arrest them. Lucy Belle gives a start. They both listen intently. The door, Back, suddenly bursts open and Jeff Bisbee dashes in. He halts abruptly upon discovering Sam and stares at him--his face distorted with rage. Sam breaks away from Lucy Belle and starts at him--menacingly._) SAM (_at the top of his voice_) Git out-a yere! (_Lucy Belle gives a cry of anguish and fear and draws back, toward Left, cowering._) JEFF (_drawing a knife and snapping open the blade_) Who yo’ talkin’ ter? SAM Ter yo’! LUCY BELLE (_rushes forward, as though to place herself between them_) Jeff--! Fo’ Gawd’s sake! JEFF Thought I’d find yo’ yere! SAM (_thunderously_) Git out--! (_Jeff lunges at Sam. Lucy Belle gives a blood-curdling shriek. The men grapple and sway about the room, grunting and cursing._) LUCY BELLE Oh, mah Gawd! _Po_-lice! _Po_-lice! Murder! (_Sam has a firm grip on Jeff’s right arm. After some desperate maneuvering, Jeff contrives to swing it down in an attempt to stab Sam in the side. Sam diverts the thrust and the blade plunges into Jeff’s side. Jeff gives a groan, his body becomes limp, his knees sag, the muscles of his hand relax and the knife falls to the floor. Sam releases him and he staggers toward the table, Center. He makes a grab for it, misses it, and falls to the floor. He raises himself on one elbow, puts his free hand to his side, and lies there groaning and rolling his eyes. Sam and Lucy Belle stand gazing down at him--terror-stricken._) LUCY BELLE (_in wild, hysterical tones_) Sam--run! Git out--git out fo’ yo’ life! (_At this juncture a policeman dashes in, Back. He pauses near the door for a second, sees Jeff lying on the floor, turns, discovers Sam, springs over and grabs him._) CURTAIN ACT II _The same as Act I--one year later. Early afternoon._ _A moment after the rise of the curtain Lucy Belle enters, Left, carrying her hat and jacket. She advances to Center and lays them on the table. Her walk is listless and her eyes are bright with nervous fatigue. She glances at the alarm clock which stands on top of the cupboard, Left Center. The hands point to half-past twelve. She drops down in a chair to the left of the table and stares dismally before her. Presently she rests her elbows on her knees, bends forward, covers her face with her hands and gives way to a series of dry, racking sobs._ LUCY BELLE (_looking up eventually with a face full of woe_) Sam! Mah ole Sam-boy--come back ter me! Ain’ yo’ evah gwine ter come back? Honey-baby! Mah own honey-baby, buddy boy! (_From off stage, Right, as though proceeding from the upstairs room come the weird, discordant, thin strains of a hymn played on an old wheezy organ, and an old Negro can be heard singing it in deep, unsteady tones. Lucy Belle becomes momentarily composed and sits listening as though the music soothed her. In the course of several moments she rises, goes to the mirror which hangs on the wall, Right, and stands before it wiping her eyes and adjusting her hair._ _Presently the music stops, and someone can be heard coming slowly and heavily down the stairs, Right. Abruptly the door, Right, opens and old man Pocher enters. He is a very old Negro with white hair and a face seamed with wrinkles. His back is quite bent and he walks with the aid of a heavy, gnarled stick. His manner is a combination of the patriarchal-Calvinistic, and that of the homely, old, ante-bellum house servant. He wears an old black suit of clothes, green with age, and carries an old and very dusty felt hat._) LUCY BELLE H’yo’, Mistah Pocher! POCHER Howdy, chile--howdy! Ain’ yo’ wukkin’ terday? LUCY BELLE Sho’! Jes’ home fo’ a lil’ while. Gwine back d’rectly. POCHER (_with stern resentment_) Dem boys skylarkin’ agin las’ night--! LUCY BELLE Gawd sakes--! POCHER Put salt on de do’step--! LUCY BELLE De dirty devils--! POCHER Secon’ time dis week! Wust neighborhood I’se evah in! LUCY BELLE ’Deed I’se gwine ter stay home ternight an’ git ’em. POCHER (_fiercely_) Git so many evil sparits ’roun’ dat dey choke yo’ ter deaf in yo’ sleep. LUCY BELLE Ef dey don’ stop I’se gwine ter put de _po_-lice on ’em. POCHER Dey wuk on me night fo’ las’-- LUCY BELLE Who? POCHER Evil sparits! Wuk on me till I kain’t hardly breafe. Yo’ yere me wrestlin’ wid ’em? LUCY BELLE Gawd, no! POCHER Ain’ gwine ter put up wid it no longer. LUCY BELLE ’Deed I don’ want yo’ ter, Mistah Pocher. POCHER (_vehemently_) Ain’ gwine ter! All dey is ’bout it! LUCY BELLE Boys in dis alley ain’ had no bringin’ up. POCHER (_advancing to the door, Back_) Salt on de do’step wust thin’ in de worl’ ter bring evil sparits ’roun’. LUCY BELLE Yas, indeedy! I knows it is. POCHER (_at the door, Back_) Gwine down ter de sto’. Reckon I be right back. LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) Make up yo’ bed fo’ yo’ d’rectly. (_Pocher nods and grunts and goes out, Back, closing the door after him. Lucy Belle stands for a moment, pondering, and a thin smile plays over her face. At length she turns and moves listlessly toward the door, Right. As she reaches there, comes the sound of boyish shouts and laughter and the shuffling of feet about the door, Back. Lucy Belle pauses and listens. She scowls darkly, hurries to the door, and throws it open. This is followed immediately by the clatter of scurrying feet and taunting shouts as those who were about the door run rapidly down the alley._) LUCY BELLE (_standing in the doorway and shouting angrily after them_) I seen yo’ Jack Kramer! Yo’ too, Lippy an’ Mule! Keep away from yere or I’se gwine ter wring yo’ damn necks! Yas, yo’s--Lippy! I ain’ scar’t of none-a yo’! Quit skylarkin’ ’roun’ dis door! Sweah out-a warran’ fo’ yo’, too! (_She stands glaring off Left at them. Slim suddenly appears from Right._) SLIM H’yo’, Luce! LUCY BELLE (_shortly, as she steps back into the room_) ’Lo, Slim. SLIM (_entering, Back, and noting her ill-humor_) W’at’s de mattah? LUCY BELLE (_closing the door_) Oh, dat Jack an’ Lippy an’ Mule is allas skylarkin’ ’roun’ mah do’. SLIM Tryin’ ter git back at yo’? LUCY BELLE (_shaking her head_) Makin’ out ter plague ole man Pocher. SLIM Git somefin’ on him? LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) Gits wise dat he scar’t ter deaf ob evil sparits--an’ bein’ conjuhed. SLIM Sho’ nuff! LUCY BELLE Lil’ while aftah he rents dis room--an’ been aftah him evah since. Puts salt on de do’step an’ ev’thin’ like dat. SLIM Bus’ ’em in de haid. LUCY BELLE Do wuss’ an dat ef dey keeps on. SLIM Clean up fo’ ’em! LUCY BELLE I sho’ gwine ter ef dey don’ lay off him! (_In tones of pondering indignation and protest._) Dat room is hard ter rent. Ole man Pocher is kep’ it longer den anabody. (_Slim nods._) Two mon’s dere could’n’ rent it at all--an’ ole Jennie Wurmser goes off owin’ me fo’ five weeks. SLIM How long Pocher been yere? LUCY BELLE Free mon’s. SLIM He sing too much. LUCY BELLE Ain’ boderin’ ’bout dat so long as I gits mah money ev’y Monday mawnin’. SLIM Whar he git his money? LUCY BELLE Son in New York send it ter him. I couldn’ hardly git by now widout somefin’ like dat comin’ in reg’lar ev’y week. SLIM Wukkin’ now? LUCY BELLE Sho’ I’se wukkin! SLIM Whar? LUCY BELLE Fo’ Moy Wing--up on Seventh Street. SLIM Chink--? (_Lucy Belle nods._) W’at doin’? LUCY BELLE Washin’ an’ iron’. W’at yo’ think? SLIM Steady? LUCY BELLE Free times a week--Monday, We’nesday, an’ Friday. SLIM Dat ain’ no kin’-a job. LUCY BELLE Yo’ go out an’ git me a bettah one. SLIM (_with a laugh_) Sho’--! LUCY BELLE An’ git yo’se’f one an’ keep it. SLIM Been in hospital. LUCY BELLE Yo’ ain’ dere now. SLIM I git one quick ’nuff. Don’ yo’ worry. LUCY BELLE Git it! SLIM Dem Chinks is crazy ’bout Niggahs an’ white people’s hearts. LUCY BELLE Go ’long! SLIM Sho! Dey kills yo’, cuts out yo’ heart, an’ eats it. Ef yo’ eats a heart nobody kin cunjuh yo’--an’ each one dat yo’ eat give yo’ a yeah’s luck. LUCY BELLE Yo’ crazy! I knowed Moy Wing ’long time. SLIM Kain’t trus’ none ob ’em. LUCY BELLE I ain’ scar’t-a him. He ain’ gwine ter do nuffin’ ter me. (_Shakes her head._) Onlies’ kin’-a job dat do fo’ me right now. SLIM How yo’ make dat out? LUCY BELLE Kain’t stay ’way from de chillen all de time. (_Sighs and drops down in a chair. Draws a hand across her forehead._) Gawd--! SLIM W’at’s de mattah? LUCY BELLE I’se tired. Wash dis mawnin’. Got ter go back dis aftahnoon an’ iron. SLIM Wuk yo’ ter deaf. LUCY BELLE Be twict as hard ef I’se wukkin’ ev’y day. (_With a little wistful cry._) Ef--ef Sam was only yere--den--den I would’n’ care how hard I haf ter wuk--or ’bout nuffin’--(_Staring abstractedly into space._) Be a yeah de fust-a nex’ monf since he wen’ ter jail. SLIM Sho’ nuff--! LUCY BELLE (_shaking her head_) Seem like five yeahs. (_Pause. Lucy Belle sits staring into space. Slim nonchalantly rolls a cigarette._) SLIM W’at become ob Jeff? LUCY BELLE I don’ know. Dey nevah done nuffin’ ter him. He was in de hospital fo’ a while. He lef’ town soon as he gits out an’ I ain’ nevah seen him since. SLIM (_at length, as he lights the cigarette_) How long is Sam up fo’? LUCY BELLE Fo’ yeahs--! SLIM Maybe he git out sooner--fo’ bein’ good. Kain’t tell. LUCY BELLE (_jumping up with an eager cry and searching his face_) Yo’--yo’ think so, Slim? SLIM Dey does sometimes. LUCY BELLE How--how soon yo’ think dey let him out? SLIM Don’ know. Yo’ nevah kain tell. LUCY BELLE Maybe in anoder yeah? SLIM Ef he have any luck. LUCY BELLE (_clasping her hands tightly together and raising her eyes heavenward_) Oh, Gawd! Ef he only do--! I kin make out fo’ ’noder yeah ef I keeps wukkin’ fo’ Moy--an’ washin’ extra yere at home like I is--an’ ef I keeps de room rented right ’long. SLIM Yo’ ain’ gwine ter have no trouble. LUCY BELLE Ef Pocher only keep dat room an’ pay me reg’lar. (_Old man Pocher is heard grumbling and grunting to himself immediately outside the door, off stage, Back._) Yere he come now! (_The door, Back, opens and Pocher enters, carrying a small package under his arms. He stands in the doorway and points angrily with his cane at the doorstep._) POCHER Look dere! Look! Yo’ see--! LUCY BELLE W’at--? POCHER (_trembling with anger and fear_) Salt on de do’step agin! LUCY BELLE Gawd sakes! POCHER Tol’ yo’ I was’n’ gwine ter put up wid it no longer! LUCY BELLE I did’n’ know dey done it. POCHER Yo’ bus’ness ter watch ’em! LUCY BELLE I does try ter. POCHER Oughter put de _po_-lice on ’em long ’go. LUCY BELLE Gwine ter--right ’way. Ain’ gwine ter wait ’noder minute. POCHER Turrible! Turrible! LUCY BELLE I knows, Mistah Pocher--but-- POCHER Third time in de las’ two days. LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) --but, yo’ see, wid de chillen an’ mah oder wuk-- POCHER Kain’t he’p dat--! LUCY BELLE Kain’t allas be stickin’ mah haid out dat do’. POCHER Nevah seen nuffin’ like it. LUCY BELLE Yas, yas--! I’se gwine ter sweep it right off. (_She goes to the closet door, up Left, opens it, takes out a broom, closes the door and goes quickly to the doorway, Back, where she stands sweeping off the doorstep._) POCHER De spell done wuk. LUCY BELLE (_as she sweeps_) Yo’ reckon so? POCHER It wuk ef de salt stay dere two secon’s. LUCY BELLE ’Deed, I’se sorry, Mistah Pocher. POCHER Nuffin’ kin stop ’em rizin’ up now. LUCY BELLE Dem boys ain’ gwine ter git neah dis do’ agin. POCHER Dey riz up an’ riz up on yo’ till de spell done break. LUCY BELLE Yo’ see, I don’ yere ’em ha’f de time--even w’en I’se home. Dey slips up on de sly an’ draps it on. POCHER Yo’ wan’ ter die? LUCY BELLE (_pausing in her work and turning_) No, no--Mistah Pocher. POCHER Dem evil sparits git ter wukkin’ on yo’ in yo’ sleep-- LUCY BELLE I know, I know-- POCHER Liable ter choke yo’ ter deaf. LUCY BELLE Sho’ don’ wan’ nuffin’ like dat ter happen. POCHER Salt on de do’step draw ’em like syrup do flies. LUCY BELLE I know, I know-- POCHER (_shuffling over to the door, Right_) Ain’ gwine ter put up wid it no longer! LUCY BELLE I’se gwine ter do mah bes’ ter stop ’em. POCHER (_vehemently_) Ain’ gwine ter put up wid it no longer! (_He goes out, Right._) LUCY BELLE (_her gaze remaining ruefully fixed on the door, Right_) Ain’ dat de limit? Gawd--! SLIM Damn ole fool. LUCY BELLE I sartainly gwine ter make trouble fo’ somebody in dis alley. (_She turns to the doorway again and completes the task of sweeping off the steps. This done she closes the door, crosses thoughtfully to closet, places the broom in it, then comes down to Left Center. Slim stands, Right Center, puffing away at his cigarette._) LUCY BELLE (_abstractedly_) Dey gittin’ wuss lately. SLIM Done tol’ yo’ w’at ter do. (_Lucy Belle gives a little nod and stands lost in thought. Slim regards her with a look of sly, calculating appraisal._) SLIM (_at length_) Luce--. LUCY BELLE Yas--? SLIM He’p me out a lil’--? LUCY BELLE W’at yo’ mean? SLIM Lemme eat yere fo’ a few days. LUCY BELLE Eat yere--! SLIM Jes’ till I gits on mah feet. LUCY BELLE (_tartly facetious_) W’at yo’ standin’ on--yo’ han’s? SLIM Gwine ter take me a week ter git goin’. LUCY BELLE Yo’ mean a monf. SLIM Lay off me wid dat kin’-a talk. LUCY BELLE Nuffin’ doin’--! SLIM Luce--please-- LUCY BELLE Yo’ yered w’at I say. SLIM I’se only jes’ out-a de hospital-- LUCY BELLE Yo’ own fault yo’ wen’ dere. SLIM Yo’ lie--! LUCY BELLE Git in a fight in Messer’s stable--an’ somebody bus’ yo’ ovah de haid wid a stick. SLIM Who say I did? LUCY BELLE I yered all ’bout it. SLIM Nevah raise a han’--. LUCY BELLE Dat’s wa’t yo’ say. SLIM Gawd’s truf! Nevah done a thin’. Dick Simpson an’ Mink Hall start ter fight--an’ fust thin’ I knows somebody bus’ me-- LUCY BELLE I ain’ carin’ ’bout w’at happen--all I knows-- SLIM Luce-- LUCY BELLE Done feed yo’ all I’se gwine ter! SLIM Wan’ me ter starve? LUCY BELLE Git out an’ hussle--now. Yo’s a lot bettah able den I is. SLIM (_harshly reproachful_) Gittin’ hard as hell, ain’ yo? LUCY BELLE I reckon I’se gittin’ wise in mah ole age. SLIM Len’ me a dollah, den. LUCY BELLE Len’ yo’ nuffin’, Slim. SLIM Fifty cents--! LUCY BELLE (_emphatically, as she shakes her head_) No--! SLIM Keep me gwine till termorrer. LUCY BELLE Nuffin’ doin’. SLIM (_clenching his fists and coming toward her menacingly_) Yo’ bettah by a damn sight change yo’ min’! LUCY BELLE (_backing away_) Yo’ keep ’way from me, Slim Dorsey! SLIM (_with a savage shout_) Gimme a dollah--! LUCY BELLE (_stopping abruptly and standing her ground squarely_) Die fo’ I give yo’ ’noder cent! (_He leans forward as though to lunge at her. She steps back a pace._) Don’ yo’ dare lay a han’ on me! Don’ yo’ dare! I’se gwine ter yell “_Po_-lice!” an’ “Murder!” ef yo’ tech me--! (_Old man Pocher is heard coming heavily down the stairs, Right. Both Slim and Lucy Belle turn and listen._) LUCY BELLE Sen’ ole man Pocher out fo’ he’p. (_Slim hesitates for a moment or two, then turns and slinks to the door, Back._) SLIM (_turning at the door_) I git yo’ fo’ dis! LUCY BELLE (_defiantly_) Git me! (_She turns and stands listening as Pocher descends the stairs. At length the door, Right, opens and the old man enters carrying a very old black leather portmanteau--so old and battered and scarred that it looks as though it were about to fall to pieces. There is fiery resolve in Pocher’s eyes. He gives Lucy Belle a sharp glance and makes directly for the door, Back._) LUCY BELLE (_hesitatingly_) H’yo’, Mistah Pocher--! POCHER (_halting and glaring at her_) W’at--? LUCY BELLE Yo’--yo’ gwine ’way? POCHER Sho’ I’se gwine ’way. LUCY BELLE Visit yo’ son--? POCHER (_fiercely_) I’se gwine ter leave dis place fo’ good. LUCY BELLE Leave--fo’ good--! POCHER Tol’ yo’ I was’n’ gwine ter put up wid dat nonsense no longer. LUCY BELLE Oh, but, Mistah Pocher-- POCHER Had er vision dat somebody gwine ter make dem evil sparits riz up on me agin. Pack mah valise dis mawnin’ ter be ready. LUCY BELLE I ain’ gwine ter let it happen agin. POCHER Yo’ say dat befo’. LUCY BELLE Gwine ter de station right dis minute an’ put de _po_-lice on ’em. POCHER Kin feel dem sparits wukkin’ on me now. LUCY BELLE Yo’ kin break de spell. POCHER I’se gwine ter break it by gittin’ ’way. LUCY BELLE Please, Mistah Pocher--don’ go off like dis-- POCHER (_taking a step or two toward the door_) Kain’t stan’ it yere no longer. LUCY BELLE Gimme anoder chanct. POCHER (_pausing_) Warn yo’ ha’f er dozen times. LUCY BELLE I know--I know-- POCHER (_proceeding toward the door_) Mus’ live in peace--an’ de presence ob de sparit ob de Lawd! LUCY BELLE Mistah Pocher--! POCHER (_turning and speaking in fierce tones as he reaches the door_) Hush yo’ talk! Done made up mah min’ ter leave dis place! Nuffin’ gwine ter stop me! LUCY BELLE (_pulling herself together and speaking in resigned tones_) Ef--ef yo’ feels dat way ’bout it--I reckon dey ain’ no use. POCHER I sen’ mah nephew--Joe Davis--’roun’ fo’ mah organ. LUCY BELLE All right. POCHER Reckon he’ll come ’roun’ termorrer wid his wagon. LUCY BELLE Gwine ter pay me? POCHER Pay yo’ fo’ w’at? LUCY BELLE Yo’ been yere free days dis week. (_He glares at her, gives a snort, drops the portmanteau, thrusts a hand down in his pocket and brings out a small, soiled bag, tied at the top with a string. He unties the string, fumbles around in the bag, finally pulls out a dirty, torn one-dollar bill._) POCHER (_holding it out to her_) Yere. LUCY BELLE (_advancing and taking it_) T-thanks. Might--mighty sorry yo’ gwine off--like dis. (_Pocher gives an impatient grunt and mumbles something to himself. He returns the bag to his pocket, picks up his portmanteau and opens the door._) LUCY BELLE Goodbye. POCHER (_shortly_) Goodbye. (_He goes out, Back, closing the door after him._) (_Lucy Belle gives a little despairing sigh, then returns slowly to Center, where she halts and stands staring--somewhat abstractedly--down at the bill in her hand. Slim appears at the window, Left Back, and peers in. At length Lucy Belle goes to the cupboard on the Left, opens one of the top doors, removes the lid from a crockery jar, reaches down in it, and takes out her pocket book. She opens the pocket book, extracts three one dollar bills, counts them carefully, places the one she has just received with them and returns them all to the pocket book. Slim’s face disappears from the window, Left Back. Lucy Belle comes thoughtfully back to Center with the pocket book still in her hand. At this juncture Israel and Fanny dash in, Back._) ISRAEL Mamma! Mamma! LUCY BELLE W’at yo’ wan’ now? FANNY Mamma--! ISRAEL Mamma, I’se hangry! LUCY BELLE Did I call yo’? FANNY No, but-- LUCY BELLE Stay out dere an’ play till I calls yo’! FANNY I’se hangry! LUCY BELLE (_displaying the pocket book_) I’se gwine down ter de mawket in jes a minute. FANNY W’en we gwine ter have dinnah? LUCY BELLE (_impatiently_) Jes’ as soon as I kin cook it. ISRAEL Mamma--! LUCY BELLE (_angrily_) Shet up, now--bof-a yo’! Wan’ me ter lock yo’ up? (_Israel begins to whimper._) Yo’ yere me? Go on out dere an’ play! (_The children hesitate._) Go ’long! Wan’ me ter beat yo’? (_They both scamper to the door, Back._) Min’ yo’ don’ go out-a dis alley! (_They go out, Back, banging the door shut after them. She drops her pocket book on the table, picks up her coat and puts it on. A light knock sounds on the door, Back. She starts to answer the door, but halts abruptly and a look of suspicion comes over her face. Her eyes light upon the pocket book. She picks it up, goes to the cupboard, Left, drops it in the crockery jar, puts the lid on, closes the cupboard door and hurries to the door, Back. Just as she reaches it, the knock sounds again. She opens it. Chick Avery stands outside._) LUCY BELLE Chick--! CHICK (_making an obsequious bow_) Dat’s me! LUCY BELLE Come in! (_He enters, carrying a suit case, which he deposits near the door. He looks a little more spruce than in the preceding act and carries himself with a decidedly prosperous air. Lucy Belle closes the door, and they both come down to Center._) CHICK De boat jes’ git in. LUCY BELLE It did--? CHICK Mighty good ter see yo’ agin. LUCY BELLE (_with a coy toss of her head_) Go ’long! CHICK On mah way ter de Gran’ Imperial. LUCY BELLE (_trying to place the name_) Gran’ Imperial--! CHICK Colored hotel ovah yere on M Street. LUCY BELLE Oh--de one Jim Mumbly keep! CHICK (_nodding_) Yas. LUCY BELLE Uster be de Johnson House. CHICK (_with a laugh_) Yas, yas. Change its name ev’y monf. LUCY BELLE Is yo’ stoppin’ dere, now? CHICK Jes’ now an’ den. Git tired gwine ’way out ter mah broder’s in G’orgetown ev’y time I’se in town. Min’ ef I leave dis suit case yere till I see ef dey got a room at de hotel? LUCY BELLE No, indeedy! CHICK Ef dey is, I’ll sen’ a boy ovah fo’ it--ef dey ain’, I’ll drap back an’ git it an’ go on out ter G’orgetown,--’less yo’ wan’ ter put me up yere. LUCY BELLE W’at yo’ talkin’ ’bout? CHICK (_sitting on the edge of the table_) Jes’ met ole man Pocher gwine down de line. LUCY BELLE Yo’ did--! CHICK Say he jes’ give up his room. LUCY BELLE (_removing her jacket and throwing it over the back of a chair_) I reckon he tol’ yo’ de truf. CHICK W’at’s de mattah? LUCY BELLE Boys in de alley keep aftah him all de time. Pesters him ter deaf. Puts salt on de do’step an’ ev’ythin’ like dat. CHICK Go ’long! LUCY BELLE Done ev’ythin’ dey could ter git his goat. CHICK Hard bunch, ain’ dey? LUCY BELLE ’Deed dey is--an’ I ain’ had no time ter lay fo’ ’em. CHICK Mighty sorry yo’ havin’ dis trouble. Ef dey’s any way I kin he’p yo’ clean up fo’ ’em, lemme know. LUCY BELLE Ain’ nuffin’ yo’ kin do. I oughter put de _po_-lice on ’em--but, yo’ knows, dat gwine ter make all kin’-a trouble fo’ me. (_He nods._) Dere people ’ud blackguard me--an’ raise hell. CHICK Why don’ yo’ move? LUCY BELLE (_shaking her head_) Kain’t right now. CHICK Gwine ter keep on rentin’ it? LUCY BELLE W’at--? CHICK De room. LUCY BELLE Sho’--! CHICK Got anabody fo’ it? LUCY BELLE (_irritated by the assumption she should act so quickly_) W’at yo’ spec’? He only jes’ give it up. CHICK Lemme have it. LUCY BELLE (_measuring him with a withering glare_) Fo’ Gawd sakes--! Listen ter yo’--! CHICK Go ahaid! LUCY BELLE Is yo’ crazy--? CHICK I only be in it free days a week--an’ I’ll pay yo’ twict as much as Pocher. LUCY BELLE Don’ care ef yo’ pays me five times as much. CHICK W’at’s de mattah wid yo’? I ain’ got smallpox or nuffin’ like dat-- LUCY BELLE Yo’ knows I ain’ gwine ter let yo’ have dat room. CHICK Don’ like mah looks--huh? LUCY BELLE (_With a laugh_) Sho’--dat’s it. Waitin’ fo’ a bettah lookin’ man ter come ’long. CHICK (_with an explosive laugh_) Nevah did have no luck wid de ladies. LUCY BELLE (_in the same spirit_) Ain’ gwine ter till yo’ git anoder face. (_Chick nods and chuckles._) CHICK (_at length, seriously_) Luce--listen ter me-- LUCY BELLE Chick Avery, lay off wid dat nonsense-- CHICK I gits so lonesome-- LUCY BELLE (_shaking her head and scowling_) Nuffin’ doin’. CHICK Jes’ till I fin’s a room ’roun’ dis neighborhood dat suit me. LUCY BELLE (_with mock ferocity_) Yo’ wan’ me ter bus’ yo’ in de eye? CHICK Ain’ I yo’ frien’--? LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) Sho’ yo’ is! An’ I wan’s yo’ ter stay mah frien’. (_Chick grins and shakes his head, as though he regarded her as an extremely difficult person to understand._) CHICK (_breaking into song_) “Yo’ kin break mah bones, Wid sticks an’ stones, But I’se gwine ter live anahow till I die.” LUCY BELLE Yo’ oughter be singin’ fo’ a livin’--’stead-a barbarin’. CHICK Dat’s w’at ev’body tell me. (_They both laugh explosively. Lucy Belle sits down._) CHICK (_at length_) Enjoyed yo’se’f at dat dance at de Mawnin’ Star, did’n’ yo’? LUCY BELLE Sho’ did--! CHICK Glad yo’ wen’, now, ain’ yo’? LUCY BELLE I reckon so. CHICK Yo’ knows so! LUCY BELLE Anaway yo’ says. CHICK Had ter beg yo’ long nuff ter git yo’ ter go. LUCY BELLE I was’n’ feelin’ so good jes’ den. CHICK ’Noder dance up dere Saturday night. LUCY BELLE Yo’ don’ say-- CHICK Big or-_kes_tra an’ plenty ter drink. LUCY BELLE Yo’ gwine--? CHICK Sho’! Wan’ ter go? LUCY BELLE Kain’t. CHICK (_impatiently_) Sho’ yo’ kin. (_She shakes her head._) W’at’s de mattah wid yo’? LUCY BELLE Not dis time. CHICK Why not? Is yo’ sick? LUCY BELLE I ain’ feelin’ jes’ right. CHICK Dat’s wa’t yo’ needs--ter git out an’ have a good time. LUCY BELLE I know-- CHICK Yo’ wan’ ter quit wukkin’ so steady. LUCY BELLE Tell me somefin’ I don’ know. CHICK Why don’ yo’--? LUCY BELLE Why don’ I quit breafin’? CHICK Yo’ look ten yeahs younger at dat las’ dance. LUCY BELLE (_with a deprecating laugh_) Wish I thought so. CHICK I’m tellin’ yo’ so! LUCY BELLE Did’n’ feel no ten yeahs younger w’en I gits out on dat flo’. CHICK ’Noder one up dere free weeks from nex’ Saturday. LUCY BELLE Dat so? CHICK Come on an’ go ter dat. LUCY BELLE (_rising_) Kain’t, Chick. CHICK (_sliding off the table_) Gwine ter stick home yere--all de time? LUCY BELLE Right now, I is. CHICK Luce--is yo’ sore at me? LUCY BELLE No--no, indeedy, Chick. CHICK Den w’at’s de mattah? LUCY BELLE Nuffin’--nuffin’ at all. Only I jes’ don’ wan’ ter go nowhars--fo’ a while. CHICK An’ yo’ don’ wan’ me ter show yo’ a good time? (_She shakes her head._) Or he’p yo’ out a lil’--? LUCY BELLE Don’ wan’ nobody ter he’p me out! (_Chick springs over to her side and takes her forcibly in his arms._) LUCY BELLE Chick! Stop! Oh, mah Gawd--! Yo’--! CHICK Yo’ mine--mine--! LUCY BELLE (_struggling frantically to free herself_) Lemme go, Chick--! Chick! Stop--! CHICK Mah lil’ budigee--! Yas, yo’ is! Ain’ yo’ mine! Damn yo’, say yo’s mine! LUCY BELLE Lemme go! Yo’ wan’ me ter yell, “_Po_-lice!” CHICK (_savagely_) Yo’ ain’ gwine ter yell nuffin’! (_His arms tighten about her._) Gimme a kiss! Come on! Yo’ yere me? LUCY BELLE (_turning her head away and protesting between gasps_) Chick! Yo’ killin’ me--! CHICK Kiss me--lovah! Yo’ yere--! Kiss me! LUCY BELLE Oh, Gawd--! Chick, don’--! (_He contrives to implant a prolonged kiss on her lips. At length, with a superhuman effort, she wrenches herself free, and retreats to the opposite side of the table. Chick starts to follow her, whereupon she runs around to the back of the table, where she stands, breathing heavily and weak from the struggle. Chick stands facing her--on the opposite side of the table and with back to the audience--his muscles taut, as though ready to lunge after her._) LUCY BELLE (_stretching out her arms beseechingly_) Don’, Chick--oh, don’--! Don’ come at me like dat! CHICK Luce--listen ter me--! LUCY BELLE Chick--! Please--! Sam--mah own Sam-boy--he’s mah lovah. He’s de onlies’ one--now! CHICK He ain’ nevah comin’ back ter yo’! LUCY BELLE Yas, he is! De minute he git out! Yo’ don’ know Sam like I does. I got ter stick ter him--no matter weder he in jail or not. Gimme a chanct, Chick. Please--! Yo’ mah bes’ frien’--nex’ ter Sam. Gimme a chanct ter keep mah promise ter him! Don’ do nuffin’ dat gwine ter make him come back an’ kill yo’! (_His muscles relax, as though her appeal had moved him somewhat._) Don’--don’ come at me like dat, Chick, ole boy-- (_He gives a little, hollow laugh, reaches in his pocket, brings out a package of Sweet Corporals, puts one in his mouth and lights it. Lucy Belle runs a hand over her hair, which is all dishevelled, then glances down at her waist._) LUCY BELLE Don’ make a wreck ob me. (_She moves hesitatingly to the door, Left, and pauses for a moment when she reaches there. He watches her with a narrow, tense gaze._) LUCY BELLE _’Scuse me a minute._ (_She goes out, Left. Chick leans back against the table and smokes in sullen, contemplative silence. Presently a knock sounds on the door, Back. Chick turns his head and listens. The knock sounds again. He goes nonchalantly to the door and opens it. Aunt Rebecca stands in the doorway._) AUNT REBECCA (_exclaiming_) Gawd-a-massy! Chick Avery, how is yo’? CHICK Fine and dandy. (_She steps into the room. Chick closes the door._) AUNT REBECCA Still on de Norfolk boat? CHICK Yas, indeedy. AUNT REBECCA Makin’ good money? CHICK Would’n’ be dere ef I was’n’. AUNT REBECCA Whar’s Lucy Belle? CHICK In dere. (_He inclines his head toward the room, off Left._) AUNT REBECCA Drap in ter say howdy. (_Chick, who has stood with his hand on the knob, opens the door again._) Yo’ ain’ gwine--? CHICK On mah way. See yo’ some mo’. AUNT REBECCA (_shortly_) Goodbye. (_He goes out, closing the door after him._) AUNT REBECCA (_somewhat peeved by the abruptness of his departure_) Humph! No-count, like all de res’ dem yallow niggahs (_Calling._) Lucy Belle--oh, Lucy Belle! LUCY BELLE (_off stage, Left_) Dat yo’, Aun’ Becky--? AUNT REBECCA Sho’ is, honey! LUCY BELLE Come on in yere. (_Aunt Rebecca goes out, Left. A moment or two later the door, Back, opens a foot or two and Slim sticks his head in and looks about. Seeing no one, he enters stealthily and closes the door slowly and with extreme care. He moves cautiously to the chair, Left Center, on which Lucy Belle’s coat lies. He picks up the coat--or jacket--and goes rapidly through the pockets in search of her pocket book. Unable to find it in them, he drops the coat and stands in tense thought. His eyes wander over to the cupboard, Left. With quick, cat-like movements he goes to it, opens one of the top doors, removes the lid from a crockery jar, peers into it, sees nothing, removes the lid from the next one, peers into it, discovers the pocket book, reaches in and takes it out. He quickly extracts the four one-dollar bills, counts them and stuffs them in his pocket. He then drops the pocket book back in the jar, replaces the lid, and closes the door of the cupboard. He slips quickly across to the door, Back, opens it and goes out. In his hurry to get out he gives the door a little bang as he shuts it. A moment later Lucy Belle enters, Left, with a startled, inquiring look and glances about._) AUNT REBECCA (_off stage, Left_) W’at’s de mattah? LUCY BELLE Thought I yered somebody come in. (_Aunt Rebecca enters, Left._) AUNT REBECCA (_glancing about_) Jes’ now? LUCY BELLE Yas. AUNT REBECCA Go ’long! LUCY BELLE Reckon I mus’ been dreamin’. AUNT REBECCA W’at yo’ yere? LUCY BELLE Soun’ like de do’ shettin’. AUNT REBECCA Sho’ don’ see nobody. LUCY BELLE (_glancing at the clock on the cupboard. The hands point to half-past one_) Um! Got ter hussle. AUNT REBECCA Wukkin’ dis afternoon? LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) Lot-a ironin’ ter do. Got ter git some dinnah fust, dough. AUNT REBECCA (_in surprise_) Ain’ yo’ had yo’ dinnah? LUCY BELLE No. AUNT REBECCA Gawd-a-massy! LUCY BELLE Waste a lot-a time chewin’ de rag wid Chick. AUNT REBECCA Go ahaid! Don’ lemme stop yo’. LUCY BELLE (_with a sigh, as she picks up her jacket_) Gawd--! (_Draws a hand across her forehead._) AUNT REBECCA Honey, w’at’s de mattah--? LUCY BELLE Oh--nuffin’-- AUNT REBECCA Yo’ did’n’ look right ter me w’en I fus’ look at yo’--in dere jes’ now. LUCY BELLE I’se a lil’ tired--dat’s all, I reckon. AUNT REBECCA (_stepping over and observing Lucy Belle closely_) Why, honey, yo’ all nervous an’ trembly--! LUCY BELLE No, I ain’, Aun’ Becky-- AUNT REBECCA Yo’ is! Now, listen ter me--don’ yo’ go ter wuk dis aftahnoon. LUCY BELLE Got ter! AUNT REBECCA No yo’ ain’! W’at yo’ talkin’ ’bout? LUCY BELLE Put Moy in a hole ef I don’. AUNT REBECCA Don’ make no diff’rence. LUCY BELLE ’Spose ter deliver mos’-a dem clothes termorrer. AUNT REBECCA Yo’ good healf come fust. LUCY BELLE Liable ter git sore an’ git somebody else ef I don’ show up. AUNT REBECCA (_with a snort_) W’at d’yo’ care? Let him! Dat ole Chink ain’ got de onlies’ job in de worl’. LUCY BELLE (_shakes her head_) Ain’ got no time ter go ’roun’ lookin’ fo’ somefin’ else right now. AUNT REBECCA (_impatiently_) Yo’ nevah take no ’vice. LUCY BELLE Yas, I does, Aun’ Becky, but-- AUNT REBECCA Yo’ don’--! Yo’ be in bed ef yo’ ain’ careful. LUCY BELLE (_in conciliatory tones_) ’Deed, I got ter git back dere dis aftahnoon. AUNT REBECCA (_shuffling grumpily toward door, Back_) Go ahaid, den. Git yo’se’f some dinnah fo’ yo’ do, dough. LUCY BELLE I’se sho’ gwine ter! Reckon I feel bettah aftah I gits a lil’ somefin’ ter eat. (_Following Aunt Rebecca to the door._) Come ovah dis evenin! AUNT REBECCA I don’ know-- LUCY BELLE Oh, please, Aun’ Becky. AUNT REBECCA (_at the door_) W’at time? LUCY BELLE Oh--oh, ’bout eight o’clock. AUNT REBECCA (_nodding_) See yo’ some mo’. LUCY BELLE See yo’ some mo’. (_Aunt Rebecca goes out, Back. Lucy Belle puts on her jacket. She goes to the cupboard, Left, opens the top door, removes the lid from the crockery jar, reaches in and gets her pocket book. Something about its flatness rouses her curiosity. She casually opens it. A look of tragic dismay comes over her face as she discovers that the money is missing._) LUCY BELLE Oh, Gawd! (_She fumbles about in the jar again, then searches through her pockets. It suddenly comes over her that she has been robbed. She stands staring dumbly before her with an expression of anguish and despair. Israel and Fanny run in, Back._) ISRAEL Mamma! I’se hangry! FANNY W’en we gwine ter have dinnah? LUCY BELLE (_with a sob_) Hush up! FANNY Yo’ said yo’d have it right ’way. ISRAEL Mamma--ain’ yo’ gwine ter hurry? LUCY BELLE (_in a choking voice_) Yas, yas--Mamma’s gwine right out-- (_She is suddenly seized with a spell of dizziness. She sways unsteadily for a moment or two, finally collapses and sinks heavily down on a chair. The children scream and run to her side. She places one hand against the table, grips the back of the chair with the other and manages to hold herself up._) LUCY BELLE (_in weak, disjointed tones_) Israel, son--hush! Yo’ yere me--? Mamma’s gwine ter be all right. Fanny! Git me glass-a watah. (_The girl hesitates._) Go on! Quick! (_Fanny runs off, Left._) ISRAEL (_crying_) Mamma! Yo’--yo’ gwine ter die? LUCY BELLE No, no! Hush up! (_He clings to her sobbingly. Fanny enters, Left, with the glass of water and hurries to her mother’s side._) LUCY BELLE (_to Israel_) Son! Mamma gwine ter beat yo’ ef yo’ don’ stop! FANNY Yere, Mamma! (_The child hands Lucy Belle the glass of water. She drinks it slowly._) LUCY BELLE (_half to herself_) Gawd, dat tas’ good. (_She gradually revives. At length, as she sets the glass on the table._) Listen ter me, yo’ chillen. Wan’ yo’ bof ter run up ter Moy Wing’s. Yo’ yere me? (_They nod._) Run up dere--an’ tell him dat Mamma gwine ter be late. Go ahaid, now. Beat it! (_They hang back, still sobbing._) Go on! (_They run to the door, Back._) Say dat he--he bettah git somebody ter he’p me out--! Understan’--? FANNY Yassum. LUCY BELLE Beat it now! (_They go out, Back, closing the door after them. Lucy Belle, weak and completely unnerved, sits staring tragically before her. At length a knock sounds on the door, Back._) LUCY BELLE (_half turning and speaking in still feeble tones_) Come in! (_The door opens and Chick Avery enters. Lucy Belle struggles to her feet._) CHICK Back agin--! LUCY BELLE Oh--er--! Did’n’ take yo’ long--. CHICK No rooms at de Gran’ Imperial. Gwine on out ter mah broder’s. (_He directs a fascinated gaze at her for a brief interval, as though half-tempted to make another ardent and forcible appeal. He thinks better of it, however, and starts to reach for the suit case._) LUCY BELLE (_in tremulous, half-hysterical tones_) Chick--! CHICK (_straightening up_) Yas--? LUCY BELLE Reckon yo’ kin have dat room. CHICK (_incredulously_) W’at--? LUCY BELLE I--I’ll rent it ter yo’. CHICK (_as though he could hardly believe his ears_) Luce--! (_She half turns away from him and gazes before her with a face full of woe._) CURTAIN ACT III _The same as Act II--a year and a half later._ _It is early evening and the lamp on the table is lighted. The chimney is badly smoked and the guttering flames cast eerie shadows about on the walls._ _Aunt Rebecca is discovered seated to Right of table. Lucy Belle is seated near her, Right Center, and is noticeably thinner and more wan than in the preceding act. On the floor at her side sits a large basket, full of washing and on a chair nearby lies her coat and hat._ _The imposing cupboard which formerly stood against the wall, Left, and the large easy chair are missing._ LUCY BELLE ’Deed, we done miss yo’ while yo’s sick. AUNT REBECCA (_shaking her head_) Don’ wan’ no mo’ spells like dat. LUCY BELLE No, indeedy! I reckon not. AUNT REBECCA Been six yeahs since rheumetiz took me down like dat. LUCY BELLE Git yo’ hard w’en it do. AUNT REBECCA ’Deed it do, ’deed it do! LUCY BELLE Mighty sorry I did’n’ git in ter see yo’ mo’ den I did. AUNT REBECCA Dat’s all right. I ain’ boderin’ ’bout dat at all. LUCY BELLE Yo’--yo’ see, I’se so busy wid mah wuk, an’ lookin’ aftah thin’s ’roun de house--an’--an’ de baby. AUNT REBECCA Yas, yas--honey. I knows how it is. LUCY BELLE Yo’ ’scuse me a minute, won’ yo’? AUNT REBECCA Sartainly, sartainly. LUCY BELLE Got ter run ’roun’ ter Miss Erminie’s wid dis yere washin’. AUNT REBECCA Sho’--sho’, honey! Yo’ go right ’long. Don’ yo’ boder ’bout me. LUCY BELLE Only jes’ ’roun’ de corner. Be right back. (_Rising and moving toward, Left._) Reckon I bettah bring dat baby out yere. No tellin’ w’at dem chillen liable ter do ter it while I’se gone. (_She goes out, Left, and returns immediately carrying a very young Negro baby._) AUNT REBECCA (_exclaiming_) Mah soul, dat’s a fine baby! Ain’ he dough? Yo’ wan’ me ter hol’ him? LUCY BELLE Ef yo’ don’ min’--till I gits back. AUNT REBECCA Sho’! Sho’! (_Lucy Belle places the baby in Aunt Rebecca’s arms and the old woman gazes down at him admiringly._) Gawd-a-massy! Bless yo’ heart! Ain’ yo’ mah lil’ honey-boy? Smile at me--dat’s it--smile! Ootchum-kootchum! Ootchum--kootchum! (_Fanny and Israel run in, Left. Both wear nightgowns._) FANNY Mamma! Whar yo’ all gwine? ISRAEL Mamma! Git me some candy! LUCY BELLE (_sharply_) Yo’ all hush! Git right back ter bed! Go ’long! FANNY (_whimpering_) I’se scar’t ob de night doctahs. LUCY BELLE Hush, child! Night doctahs ain’ gwine ter git yo’ in yere. Go ’long! (_Threateningly._) D’yo’ wan’ me ter knock yo’ haids off? ISRAEL Mamma! Git me--! (_Lucy Belle grabs them roughly and pushes them through the door, Left, and closes it after them. They cry for several moments and then gradually stop._) LUCY BELLE (_with a little sigh, as she comes back to Center_) Reckon I bettah be on mah way. (_Beginning to put on her hat and coat._) I ain’ nevah had no luck. Some gals gits by widout no trouble at all. I ain’ one-a dem kin’. Nuffin’ I evah done come out right--nuffin’ at all. Ef I starts anathin’ it’s boun’ ter go wrong. I--I’se conjuhed fo’ life. AUNT REBECCA Hush, chile! Don’ git down in de mouf like dat. Yo’ luck liable ter change any minute. Min’ did aftah I gits rid-a dem warts. LUCY BELLE I ain’ got no bus’ness wid all dese chillen. I’se a fool--Gawd knows I is. (_Wistfully._) Ain’ only one niggah evah treated me decent. Gawd knows, he treated me right! AUNT REBECCA Yo’ means Sam. (_Lucy Belle nods._) Still in jail, ain’ he? LUCY BELLE (_nodding_) Down in de penitentiary at Moun’sville. He kain’t write, so I don’ nevah yere from him. AUNT REBECCA Nevah min’, he gwine ter come back someday. LUCY BELLE Gawd, I hope so! AUNT REBECCA W’at come dat yallow--um--lessee--w’at’s his name--uster see him ’roun’ yere-- LUCY BELLE Chick Avery. AUNT REBECCA Yas--Chick Avery. Dat who I means. LUCY BELLE (_darkly_) He git a job barbarin’ on de boat dat run from New York ter Chawlston. AUNT REBECCA Go ’long--! LUCY BELLE (_bitterly_) Been gone free mon’s. I ain’ seen nor yere from him since he lef’. (_She picks up the basket of clothes and goes to the door, Back._) Only be a minute, Aun’ Becky. (_Aunt Rebecca grunts and nods. Lucy Belle goes out, Back. Aunt Rebecca sits in brooding thought for a moment or two, then begins to chant to herself._) AUNT REBECCA Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! (_High treble._) Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Trouble in mah soul! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! (_Footsteps and someone whistling are heard off stage, Back. Aunt Rebecca stops and listens. The door opens and Slim Dorsey enters, Back._) SLIM ’Lo, Aun’ Becky. W’at yo’ all doin’ yere? AUNT REBECCA Min’en de baby fo’ Lucy Belle. SLIM Whar she? AUNT REBECCA Takin’ washin’ ’roun’ ter Miss Erminie’s. (_Slim takes a bag of tobacco and a pack of cigarette papers from his pocket and proceeds to roll a cigarette._) SLIM Dat gal ain’ no good. She make twict as much ef she was ter wuk out. AUNT REBECCA (_sharply_) W’at kin’-a bruder is yo’? Dat ain’ no way ter talk. W’at she do wid de chillen--an’--an’ dis yere baby? SLIM (_licking the cigarette_) Make a present ob ’em ter somebody. AUNT REBECCA Shame on yo’--shame on yo’--talkin’ like dat! She do de bes’ she kin! An’ yo’ jes’ lay ’roun’ an’ let her keep yo’. SLIM Dat’s a lie! I wuks a damn sight harder den she do. AUNT REBECCA Whar yo’ wuk? SLIM On de wharf--shuckin’ oysters. AUNT REBECCA Dat steady? SLIM Steady in season. I fishes w’en I ain’ wukkin’ dere. Dat’s why we move ovah yere from Carter Street--ter be handy ter de rivah. Don’ yo’ all go lyin’ ’bout me livin’ off Lucy Belle,--’less yo’ lookin’ fo’ trouble. (_Aunt Rebecca glowers at him and remains silent for a brief interval. Slim lights his cigarette and sits astride a chair, with the back to the front._) AUNT REBECCA (_at length_) She got too many chillen. SLIM Ain’ nobody knows dat bettah den I do. No niggah an’ gwine ter take up wid her now. Mink Hall was crazy fo’ ter marry her one time. Huh--he wouldn’ look sideways at her now ef he was ter pass her in de street. (_The wind blows and whistles through the cracks. Aunt Rebecca straightens up stiffly and rolls her eyes._) AUNT REBECCA (_in low, frightened tones_) Gawd-a-massy! Yo’ ain’ gwine ter git me--yo’ ole hussy! SLIM W’at’s de mattah? AUNT REBECCA Dat’s Lil Mundy tryin’ ter git back at me. SLIM (_with a derisive laugh_) W’at fo’? AUNT REBECCA Fo’ kickin’ dat ole dog ob hers off mah do’step. (_Lucy Belle enters, Back, carrying the empty basket._) AUNT REBECCA (_exclaiming_) Lan’ sake, chile! It ain’ takin’ yo’ long. LUCY BELLE Don’ see me wastin’ no time on a night like dis. (_Giving Slim a stony stare._) ’Lo, Slim. (_She drops the basket near the door, and removes her hat and coat._) SLIM (_jumping up and going to her quickly_) Luce--! LUCY BELLE W’at--? SLIM Sam’s yere! LUCY BELLE (_blankly, as she searches his face_) W’at d’yo’ mean? SLIM He’s back yere in Wash’nin’. LUCY BELLE (_with a gasp_) Oh, Gawd! (_Comes down to Right Center and drops her hat and coat on a chair._) SLIM Mink Hall jes’ seen him uptown. He stops in Seventh Street ter buy yo’ all somefin’. LUCY BELLE Whar did yo’ see Mink? SLIM On de wharf. Jes’ come ovah dere from uptown. Sam tol’ him dat he comin’ right on out yere. LUCY BELLE (_with a cry of ecstasy_) Sam! Mah Sam-boy! (_Then in tones tremulous with emotion_) How did he git out so soon? SLIM Got his sentence cut short fo’ bein good--like I done tol’ yo’ he might. LUCY BELLE (_agitatedly_) W’at--w’at did Mink say ter him--’bout me? SLIM Nuffin’, I reckon--’Cept dat he ain’ seen yo’ in a good while--an’ dat yo’ still livin’ yere in Goat Alley. LUCY BELLE Yo’--yo’ ain’ nevah tol’ Mink dat I--I got-- SLIM Yo’ mean’ ’bout de baby? (_She nods._) No, no! W’at I tell him dat fo’? LUCY BELLE (_in earnest entreaty_) Slim--Slim--! Go down ter end ob de alley--dere by de stable. Sam gwine ter come in dat way sho’ as yo’ bawn ef he been up on Seventh Street. Ketch him dere--an’ take him ovah ter Gerner’s. Say dat I gone ovah ter Mag’s an’ dat I be back late ternight. SLIM I ain’ boderin’ ’bout him. LUCY BELLE Slim, please, honey! Won’ yo’? Dat ain’ gwine ter hurt yo’. (_She pulls up her skirt, reaches down in her stocking and pulls out a dollar bill._) Yere! (_She hands it to Slim._) Please--jes’ dis onct! Won’ yo’--? (_He slowly nods, and starts toward the door. She calls after him. He halts and turns._) Slim, don’ tell him whar I is. Jes’--jes’ say I’se gone away--an’ dat I won’ be back till in de mawnin’. Yo’ yere? Say yo ’don’ know whar I is! SLIM All right. (_He goes out, Back._) LUCY BELLE (TURNING TO AUNT REBECCA) I--I did’n’ have no kin’-a idea Sam ’ud git out so soon. (_Rapturously._) Sam! Mah, Sam! (_Then fearfully._) But--but I kain’t see him yet--no, no--! AUNT REBECCA Now, now--! Don’ yo’ git yo’se’f in no stew. LUCY BELLE (_wringing her hands_) I tol’ yo’ I ain’ nevah had no luck! W’at kin’ a po’ gal like me do? Yo’--yo’ see I got dis yere baby. It--it’s free mon’s ole, now. Ef--ef he see dat--Oh, Gawd! AUNT REBECCA Yo’ reckon--! LUCY BELLE He’d kill me--sho’ as yo’ bawn! Yo’ see--yo’ see, his time was’n’ up fo’ mos’ anoder yeah. Him a’ me ain’ nevah had no luck an’ I did’n’t calc’late he’d git out befo’. I--I was gwine ter git ready an’ move in ’bout six mon’s. Den I was gwine ter writ ter de Warden--or de keeper--or somebody like dat an’ git dem ter tell him whar I move ter. (_Moving about agitatedly._) Ef he only knowed what I been up agin! I--I promised him I would’n’ look at anabody else while he was gone. Ef I’d--a had any kin’a-luck nuffin’ ’ud make me break it. I loves Sam. I loves him bettah den anathin’ in de worl’. He knows I does. (_A moment’s pause. Her eyes rove space._) Las’ wintah I could’n’ git nuffin’ much ter do--dat is nuffin’ dat pay me much money--an’ I had trouble rentin’ dat room--. (_She pauses for a moment, and drops her eyes, then goes on slowly._) Chick Avery comes ’roun’--yo’ know--an’ I let’s him stay yere--(_She pauses again, and then points at the baby._) Dat’s his chile. AUNT REBECCA (_in heartfelt sympathy_) Yo’ po’, po’ honey! LUCY BELLE W’en me an’ Sam fust met up he says, “Lucy Belle, I don’ care nuffin’ at all ’bout w’at yo’ done fo’ I knowed yo’. Dat’s all pas’ an’ gone an’ somefin’ we ain’ gwine ter boder our haids ’bout.” (_She stares into space with tragic eyes._) But--but he tol’ me onct dat ef I evah had anathin’ ter do wid anoder niggah he’d kill me. AUNT REBECCA He ain’ gwine ter do nuffin’ like dat! Don’ yo’ worry! LUCY BELLE (_with a faint, wistful smile_) He’s de onlies’ niggah dat evah done anathin’ much fo’ me. Mah own Sam-boy, baby buddy! (_She stares abstractedly into space for a moment or two._) An’--an’ yo’ see he’s comin’ right back ter me--now he’s out. AUNT REBECCA Yas, indeedy! I reckon he is! LUCY BELLE (_clenching her hands_) Oh, Gawd! AUNT REBECCA Nevah yo’ min’, honey. Yo’ ain’ got nuffin’ ter worry ’bout. LUCY BELLE Sam nevah boder his haid ’bout oder gals--not since he know me--’cept ole Lizzie Gibbs fo’ a lil’ while--(_Fearfully._) Dat’s de onlies’ thin’ I’se scar’t of--is dat niggahs will lie an’ blackguard on me! AUNT REBECCA (_indicating the baby_) Who all know yo’ got dis yere chile? LUCY BELLE Only two or free people yere in Goat Alley--an’ Slim an’ Mag an’ yo’. Mag’s mah frien’ ovah in Anacostia. AUNT REBECCA Ef I did’n’ have dem gran’chillen I’d keep de baby fo’ yo’. LUCY BELLE No, no! Would’n’ wan’ yo’ ter do nuffin’ like dat. AUNT REBECCA W’at yo’ calc’late yo’ do? LUCY BELLE I don’ know, I don’ know! I kin take him ovah ter Mag’s--but even ef I does--she kain’t keep him long--an’--(_Pacing about agitatedly._) I--I’se got ter do somefin’ quick! (_In anguish._) I ain’ done no mo’ den oder gals--an’--an’--Sam got ter fo’give me! (_A knock sounds on the door, Back. Lucy Belle starts._) LUCY BELLE (_in low tones to Aunt Rebecca_) Take him in dere. (_She points off, Left._) (_Aunt Rebecca rises with the baby and goes out hurriedly, Left._) LUCY BELLE (_as Aunt Rebecca leaves_) Come in! (_The door, Back, opens and Lizzie Gibbs enters. She wears no hat and has a light shawl thrown over her shoulders._) LIZZIE (_slouching in_) ’Lo! LUCY BELLE (_starts back with a look of consternation_) ’Lo--! LIZZIE H’yo’--? LUCY BELLE (_brusquely_) Fine an’ dandy! LIZZIE I reckon yo’ is! Thought I’d fin’ yo’ flyin’ ’roun’ wid yo’ eyes poppin’ out-a yo’ haid. LUCY BELLE (_with studied complacency_) I don’ know w’at yo’ all talkin’ ’bout. LIZZIE (_with a loud, sarcastic laugh_) Ha! Ha! Ain’ got nuffin’ on yo’ min’--huh? LUCY BELLE (_defiantly_) Not a thin’! LIZZIE Good frien’ ob yo’s back in town. LUCY BELLE Now yo’ said somefin’. Who? LIZZIE (_darkly_) Dat’s right--preten’ yo’ don’ know nuffin’ ’bout it--yo’ damn lil’ hussy! LUCY BELLE (_hotly_) Don’ yo’ call me no hussy! LIZZIE Don’ yo’ stan’ up dere an’ tell me yo’ don’ know Sam Reed ain’ home. LUCY BELLE (_simulating great surprise_) Sam! No! Is yo’ seen him? LIZZIE (_mysteriously_) Ha! Ha! I guess he don’ fo’git ole frien’s. LUCY BELLE (_in sharp derision_) Huh! I bet yo’ ain’! I bet yo’ all I got yo’ ain’! LIZZIE Yo’ all got de idee yo’ got some kin’-a strangle hol’ on Sam, ain’ yo’? LUCY BELLE (_hotly_) I knows damn well he ain’ gwine ter fool ’roun’ an’ ole wench like yo’! LIZZIE (_menacingly_) Ef yo’ say anathin’ like dat agin I bus’ yo’ in de mouf! (_Lucy Belle gives an explosive, contemptuous laugh._) Lemme tell yo’, gal, I knows a thin’ or two ’bout yo’. LUCY BELLE Nuffin’ but w’at yo’ make up out-a yo’ own haid. LIZZIE Gawd knows, how many times I see yo’ on de street las’ wintah wid Chick Avery. LUCY BELLE (_angrily_) Yo’ nevah! Yo’ lie! LIZZIE (_with a savage laugh_) Oh, yas, yo’ lil’ angel face! Yo’ nevah done nuffin’ wrong in yo’ life! (_Darkly._) Lemme tell yo’ one thin’! Keep yo’ han’s off dat niggah--dis time! Ef I yere yo’ been foolin’ roun’ aftah him I’se gwine ter raise some hell. (_She turns toward the door, Back._) LUCY BELLE Yo’ won’ do nuffin’! LIZZIE (_wheeling around_) Ask anabody dat knows me ef I don’ allas make good! LUCY BELLE Yo’ ain’ gwine ter do nuffin’! LIZZIE (_at the door_) Ain’ I? Yo’ wait an’ see! I’se gwine ter make dat face-a yo’s look like a piece-a sausage. Don’ yo’ come tryin’ ter play any ob dat doll-baby bus’ness wid me! Ha! Ha! Yo’ damn lil’ hussy, yo’! (_She goes out, Back._) (_Lucy Belle stands gazing angrily after her. Aunt Rebecca enters, Left._) AUNT REBECCA Whew-me! Gawd-a-massy! Sweah out a warrant fo’ her! Go ’long! Don’ yo’ let no niggah blackguard yo’ like dat. LUCY BELLE I’ll git her mahse’f--an’ ef I don’, Sam will. (_Fiercely._) Some night I ketch her alone an’ knock her haid off! ’Deed, I’se gwine ter clean up fo’ her right! AUNT REBECCA Low down yallaw wench! LUCY BELLE (_with a little wail of despair_) Now, right ’way, she got ter come mixin’ in agin. (_Fiercely._) I done took all I’se gwine ter off her! (_Moving about agitatedly._) ’Deed, I is! W’at she anaway? Stuck up kase she got straight hair. Nevah done a lick-a wuk in her life. AUNT REBECCA Hush, honey! Ain’ no use ter git all wukked up! LUCY BELLE (with an hysterical laugh) Ha! Ha! She think she kin keep Sam ’way from me! I like ter see her! I like ter see her! AUNT REBECCA Nevah yo’ min’! Nevah yo’ min’! (_A knock on the door, Back. Lucy Belle and Aunt Rebecca start._) LUCY BELLE (_calling out in tremulous tones_) Who dat? SAM (_off, Back_) Me--! LUCY BELLE (_with a gasp_) It Sam--! (_She motions to Aunt Rebecca to leave the room. The old woman goes off hurriedly, Left. Lucy Belle stands hesitant. A look of dire fear comes over her face, and she appears to be on the verge of collapse. However, with an effort she controls herself and goes uncertainly to the door, Back, and opens it. Sam steps in. He looks older and thinner than in Act I and his hair is streaked with gray, and his shoulders are a trifle more stooped than before. He wears a dark suit of clothes--the sort furnished to prisoners on the occasion of their release--a collar, but no tie, and he carries a small bundle under one arm. In one hand he carries his hat._) SAM (_springing forward with a cry of joy_) Gal--! LUCY BELLE (_rushing to him_) Sam! (_He tosses his hat and the bundle on the table, takes her in his arms and smothers her with kisses._) SAM Honey-baby! Honey-baby! LUCY BELLE (_murmuring softly_) Baby! Baby! SAM Yo’ ain’ fo’got yo’ ole Sam, is yo’? LUCY BELLE No, no! Oh, Sam, Sam! Mah ole Sam-boy! (_Clinging tightly to him._) Oh, I’se so glad ter see yo’! Gawd bless yo’! SAM Honey-baby! Honey-baby! LUCY BELLE Ole Sam-boy! Mah honey-baby buddy-boy! I’se so glad ter see yo’! SAM Yo’ all did’n’ ’spec’ me, did yo’? LUCY BELLE No, no! Did’n’ have no idea in de worl’ I’se gwine ter see yo’ so soon. Not till jes’ a minute ago. Slim come an’ tol’ me. He say Mink Hall tol’ him. SAM (_nodding_) Yas--I seen Mink uptown. LUCY BELLE Ah, Sam-boy! Mah budigee lovah! Yo’ ain’ nevah gwine ter leave me agin, is yo’? SAM Nevah, honey! No, indeedy! Not ’less dey takes me ’way in a box. LUCY BELLE Yo’s de bes’ ole buddy in de worl’! SAM Seem ter me like I only had ter shet mah eyes--night or day--an’ see yo’ face. Only thinkin’ ’bout yo’ kep’ me from killin’ ev’body in sight w’en I’se breakin’ mah back on dem rock piles. Yo’ don’ know w’at kin’-a hell I been th’u’, gal. Kin’-a hell dat sets a man crazy--’less he’s careful. LUCY BELLE I knows, I knows. Mus’-a been turrible! Turrible! Oh, Gawd! SAM Yo’ all stay right on yere--all de time? LUCY BELLE Yas, yas. Calc’lated ter move two or free times but could’n’ fin’ nuffin’ ter suit me. SAM (_glancing about the room and noting that the cupboard and large easy chair are missing_) Whar’s de cupboard--an’--an’ dat ole easy chaiah? LUCY BELLE I--I sol’ ’em. SAM Sol’ ’em--! LUCY BELLE (_with a catch in her voice_) I--I was broke dere fo’ a while--an’ I had ter. SAM (_in tones of heartfelt sympathy_) Yo’ po’ kid! (_Stroking her hair._) Dat’s all right. We ain’ gwine ter boder nuffin’ ’bout dat. (_Studying her face intently._) Yo’ lookin’ mighty thin. LUCY BELLE I’se been wukkin’ hard, Sam. ’Tain’t so easy fo’ a gal alone--an’--an’--wid two chillen. SAM I know it ain’, honey-baby. Nevah min’--yo’ ain’ gwine ter wuk hard no mo’. LUCY BELLE (_eagerly_) Sam--Sam-boy--le’s me an’ yo’ git ’way from yere--! SAM W’at yo’ mean--from Wash’nin’--? LUCY BELLE Yas, yas. From dis ole hard-luck town! SAM (_nodding_) We study ’bout dat d’rectly. LUCY BELLE Le’s go ter Baltimo’. Dey was mo’ wuk w’en yo’ was ovah dere befo’--an’ dey paid bettah wages. SAM Don’ know how it is now. LUCY BELLE Jes’ de same--ev’ybody tell me. An’--an’ ef we stay yere, honey--de _po_-lice be aftah yo’ all de time. SAM No dey won’. LUCY BELLE Dey will--yo’ knows dey will. Ev’y time dey’s a lil’ trouble dey gwine ter pick yo’ up. An’--an’ me an’ yo’ ain’ nevah had no luck in dis town. Befo’ we was gwine ter Baltimo’ jes’ as soon as yo’ got a steady job--an’ den--at las’ we was gwine anaway. Ef--ef we’d picked right up an’ wen’ at fust ole Jeff Bisbee ’ud nevah come foolin’ ’roun’--an’ yo’d nevah wen’ ter jail--would yo’? SAM I reckon not. LUCY BELLE I knows yo’ would’n’. Aftah all de trouble we had yere--I hates dis place--! I gotta feelin’ dat nuffin’ ain’ gwine ter come right long as we stay yere. I wan’s ter git ’way! Le’s don’ wait dis time. Le’s git ’way fo’ any ob dat ole hard luck begin! SAM Lemme git rested up a lil’--an’ den-- LUCY BELLE Baby, le’s git out right away--jes’ as quick as we kin. Mah monf yere ain’ up till nex’ week but I don’ care. Le’s pack up an’ beat it--an’ git ’way from all dat hard luck--an’ _po_-lice an’ lyin’ an’ blackguardin’ niggahs. Won’ yo’, honey-baby? Termorrer or nex’ day--de quicker de bettah. SAM (_nodding_) All right, lil’ gal. Ef dat’s w’at yo’ wan’s, I reckon we’ll do it. LUCY BELLE (_throwing her arms about him_) Baby, baby! Gawd bless yo’! Mah Sam-boy! Mah Sam-boy! (_Aunt Rebecca enters, Left._) LUCY BELLE (_breaking away from Sam_) Oh, Aun’ Becky! Glad ter see yo’! AUNT REBECCA Sam! Gawd bless yo’! SAM H’yo’ all been? AUNT REBECCA ’Tolable! ’Tolable! Down wid rheumatiz fo’ a while--but I’se all right now. Mighty glad yo’s out. SAM I’se mighty glad ter be out. AUNT REBECCA Mus’ ’scuse me. I got ter git home an’ cook some suppah fo’ mah ole man. LUCY BELLE Don’ run ’way, Aun’ Becky. AUNT REBECCA Mus’, mah chile! See yo’ some mo! SAM Goodbye. (_Aunt Rebecca goes out, Back._) LUCY BELLE (_moving toward the Left_) Honey-baby, ’scuse me a minute. SAM Whar yo’ gwine? LUCY BELLE (_nodding toward Left_) In yere. Be right back. (_Sam nods. She goes out, Left. Sam moves slowly and thoughtfully about the room. Presently a loud knock sounds on the door, Back. As he nears it, it opens and Lizzie Gibbs rushes in._) LIZZIE (_halting abruptly_) Sam! SAM W’at in hell is yo’ doin’ yere? LIZZIE Well--Sam! So--so yo’s out again! Mah soul, but I’se damn glad ter see yo! SAM W’at d’yo’ wan’? D’yo’ yere me? LIZZIE (_ingratiatingly_) Sam, kid--come on wid me--fo’ a good time! Le’s cel’brate! SAM Ef yo’ keep foolin’ ’roun’ me, yo’s gwine ter git hurt. LIZZIE Sam--Sam, ole boy--now hones’, w’at is I evah done ter make yo’ treat me like yo’ has? SAM Go ’long! Git out-a yere! LIZZIE (_with a show of anger_) Yo’s a damn fool fo’ stickin’ ter dis gal. She don’ mean yo’ no good. SAM (_menacingly_) Shet up! LIZZIE She don’ care nuffin’ ’bout yo’! SAM (_stepping toward her_) Wan’ me ter bus’ yo’ in de mouf? LIZZIE (_ingratiatingly again_) Sam--I’se gwine ter git a good job uptown--Monday. I’ll keep yo’ dis wintah, ole kiddo. Yo’ won’ haf ter do no wuk. Should think yo’ wan’ ter take it easy--fo’ a while--now yo’ out-a jail. Don’ yo’? I’ll show yo’ a good time, son. Yo’ kin lay ’roun’ an’ take it easy--an’ git drunk w’en yo’-a min’ ter-- SAM Git out-a yere! LIZZIE Sam, I don’ wan’ ter see nobody like yo’ git tied up agin wid a wench like her. Onct was ’nuff--but-- SAM Git out-a yere--d’yo’ yere me? Beat it! LIZZIE (_angrily_) Yo’s a great big stiff ter let a gal like her take yo’ in. (_The door, Left, opens slightly and Lucy Belle can be seen listening._) SAM (_savagely_) Shet up! LIZZIE Why, she been runnin’ ’roun’ wid Chick Avery--evah since yo’ lef. Ha! Ha! SAM Dat’s a lie! LIZZIE So he’p me Gawd, dat’s de truf--an’ I kin prove it! SAM (_menacingly_) It’s a lie! LIZZIE She bleed yo’ ter deaf an’ den tuhn yo’ loose. I’se tellin’ yo’! SAM (_hitting her on the jaw_) Shet up! Yo’ blackguardin’ hussy! LIZZIE (_shrieking_) Murder! Murder! _Po_-lice! _Po_-lice! Murder! (_Sam darts out the door, Back. Lucy Belle closes the door, Left. Hurried footsteps are heard off stage, Back. Lizzie glances out of the window, Left Back, gives a little gasp, looks wildly about for a place to hide, runs to the closet door, opens it, darts in and pulls it shut after her. A policeman enters, Back._) POLICEMAN (_calling out_) What’s the trouble here? (_He stands looking about the room for a moment or two, then advances toward the door, Left. It suddenly opens and Lucy Belle enters._) POLICEMAN (_gruffly_) What’s the matter? LUCY BELLE Nuffin’--nuffin’ at all, sir. POLICEMAN There was so! (_Striding over to her._) Who was that yellin’? LUCY BELLE I--I don’ know, sir. It was’n’ yere. POLICEMAN Stop your lyin’. I know better! LUCY BELLE No, no! Hones’ ter Gawd! POLICEMAN Say--where d’yuh get that stuff? Don’t yuh think I got ears? (_Goes to the door, Left._) Who’s in here? LUCY BELLE Jes’ mah chillen. (_He goes out, Left. She stands watching him. In a moment he re-enters._) POLICEMAN (_studying her with an ugly, menacing look_) I’ve a good mind to lock you up anyway. LUCY BELLE (_with a beseeching wail_) Oh--, oh, please sir,--I ain’ done nuffin’! POLICEMAN (_as he moves toward the door, Back_) Yuh better watch your step. I ain’t goin’ to stand for no skylarkin’ around this neighborhood. (_He goes out, Back, and closes the door after him. Lucy Belle turns and goes off hurriedly, Left. She re-enters immediately carrying the baby in her arms and starts toward the door, Back. A second later Fanny--in her nightgown--runs in, Left._) FANNY Mamma! LUCY BELLE Hush, chile! FANNY Whar yo’ gwine? LUCY BELLE Gwine ter take de baby ovah ter yo’ Aun’ Becky’s. Git right back ter bed. Go ’long! (_Fanny goes out, Left, closing the door after her. Lucy Belle starts again toward the door, Back. Lizzie steps abruptly out from the closet._) LIZZIE (_with a sardonic leer_) So dat’s yo’ baby, is it? LUCY BELLE (_halting with a startled cry_) Oh! Oh, mah Gawd! LIZZIE I knowed I’d git yo’! Pretendin’ ter be such a lil’ angel! Ha! Ha! Been up ter all kin’-a tricks, ain’ yo’? LUCY BELLE Git out-a yere! LIZZIE (_slouching slowly toward the door, Back_) I got yo’ numbah, now--yo’ lil’ rat! Ha! Ha! LUCY BELLE W’at in hell d’yo’ mean? It ain’ mah chile! LIZZIE Ha! Ha! Ha! Ain’ yo’ chile! Ain’ yo’ chile! Yo’s a good lil’ liah, ain’ yo’? LUCY BELLE (_passionately defiant_) No--it ain’--yo’ blackguardin’ hussy! LIZZIE Ha! Ha! It sartainly do look like Chick--jes’ ’zactly. Wait till I tells Sam. He one-a dem kin’ dat ain’ so partic’lar. He don’ min’ accidents now an’ den. Ha! Ha! (_She goes out, Back._) (_Lucy Belle stands staring tragically to the front. Suddenly a look of desperation comes into her face and she dashes out, Back. Presently Aunt Rebecca enters, Back, and looks inquiringly about._) AUNT REBECCA (_calling_) Lucy Belle! Oh, Lucy Belle! (_Fanny runs in, Left._) FANNY Mamma gwine ovah ter yo’ house wid de baby. AUNT REBECCA (_nonplussed_) Mah house! FANNY Dat w’at she say. AUNT REBECCA ’Deed, chile, yo’ all mus’ been dreamin’. FANNY (_with a whimper_) Den--den I don’ know whar she is. AUNT REBECCA Yo’ been dreamin’. Go ’long back ter bed. (_Fanny reluctantly leaves, Left. Aunt Rebecca sits down in a chair and chants to herself._) AUNT REBECCA Devil gwine ter git yo’! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Devil gwine ter git yo’! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Devil gwine ter git yo’! (_Suddenly Slim rushes in, Back, breathing heavily and wild-eyed._) SLIM A-aun’ Becky! AUNT REBECCA Yas! Yas! SLIM Lucy Belle drown de baby! AUNT REBECCA (_jumping up with a shriek_) Oh! Oh, mah Gawd! Oh, oh! SLIM (_jerkily_) Me an’ Mink Hall--an’ some oder niggahs--in a game ovah by dem coal chutes. She sneak ’long by Graley’s ice house--den run out on de wharf an’ th’u it in. Me an’ Mink seen ef we would save it--but it was’n’ no use. It--it was too da’k. Soon as ’Luce seen me she run’ as fas’ as she coul’. I believe she gone plum crazy. AUNT REBECCA Gawd-a-massy! Gawd-a-massy! Dat po’ chile! I knowed somefin’ tumble gwine ter happen. SLIM Yo’--yo’ ain’ seen her, is yo’? AUNT REBECCA Gawd-a-massy, no! SLIM Come on! Le’s see ef we kin fin’ her. (_Aunt Rebecca and Slim go out, Back. In the course of a brief interval Lucy Belle enters stealthily, Back,--dishevelled and terrified. She moves agitatedly about the room, twining and intertwining her fingers. Presently Sam enters, Back._) SAM Lucy Belle! LUCY BELLE (_in tremulous tones--as she pulls herself together with a mighty effort_) Sam-boy! SAM Was’n’ gwine ter take no chances. LUCY BELLE (_avoiding his direct gaze_) No, no! Honey-baby! Mah ole budigee honey-baby! I’se so scar’t I did’n’ know w’at ter do. SAM (_sharply_) Yo’ yere w’at she was tellin’ me? LUCY BELLE (_lying_) I yere jes’ a lil’. SAM (_fiercely_) She say yo’ all been foolin’ ’roun’ wid Chick Avery. LUCY BELLE It’s a lie! Ain’ a wud ob truf in it! SAM (_grabbing her and searching her face with a gaze of tense scrutiny_) Have yo’? LUCY BELLE No, no! Sam! Fo’ Gawd’s sake! Yo’ don’ believe a devil like her, d’yo’? SAM Ef I ketches yo’ runnin’ wid anabody else I’se gwine ter kill yo’! LUCY BELLE (_passionately_) Sam-boy! Hones’ ter Gawd--I ain’ had nuffin’ ter do wid nobody since yo’ been gone! Nuffin’ at all! Yo’ believe yo’ lil’ budigee, don’ yo’? Don’ yo’, honey-baby? (_Lizzie enters, Back._) LIZZIE (_with a cry of triumph_) I knowed I’d git yo’ numbah! SAM Git out-a yere! D’yo’ wan’ me ter kill yo’? LIZZIE Sam--Sam--she got-a baby! It Chick Avery’s. It’s yere! Dat’s de way she treat yo’ all! Ha! Ha! Makin’ a damn fool ob yo’! I allas knowed yo’s an easy mark! LUCY BELLE (_screaming_) It’s a lie! It’s a lie! Don’ yo’ believe her, Sam! (_Sam starts for Lizzie. She backs out of the door, Back._) LIZZIE (_just outside of the doorway--at the top of her voice_) I tol’ yo’ I’d git yo’! I tol’ yo’ I’d git yo’! Ha! Ha! (_Sam starts to rush out after her. He hesitates, however, and finally bangs the door shut and turns to Lucy Belle._) SAM (_fiercely_) Yo’ yere w’at she say? LUCY BELLE (_palsied with fear_) It ain’ so! It’s a lie! Yo’ knows she could’n’ tell de truf! She nuffin’ but a dirty, lyin’ hussy--! Yo’ don’ believe her, do yo’? SAM (_harshly_) Lemme look ’roun’ yere! LUCY BELLE Ain’ no use, honey. Yo’ ain’ gwine ter see nuffin’. SAM (_shoving her aside roughly_) Lemme look! (_He starts toward Left._) LUCY BELLE Ain’ nobody but Fanny an’ Israel in dere! SAM (_loudly_) Ef yo’ try any funny bus’ness wid me I’ll kill yo’! Damn yo’ heart ter hell! (_He goes out, Left, closely followed by Lucy Belle. The door stands open and their voices can be heard._) LUCY BELLE (_off stage, Left_) See, Sam--ain’ nobody but Fanny an’ Israel. Don’ wake ’em up! Jes’ mah clothes, Sam-boy! Aw, yo’ believes me--don’ yo’? Yo’ don’ believe an’ ole wench like her! SAM (_savagely_) Chick Avery been hangin’ ’roun’ yere? LUCY BELLE 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 * * * * * Transcriber’s Note Inconsistencies in hyphenation, spelling, and the use of apostrophes have been retained, except in the following apparent typographical errors. Page 50, “Bell” changed to “Belle.” (_Lucy Belle jumps up_) Page 118, “cubpoard” changed to “cupboard.” (_She goes to the cupboard, Left_) Page 133, “Lucky” changed to “Lucy.” (LUCY BELLE I don’ know! I don’ know!) 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