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--?