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.