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