(_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.