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