W’en--w’en? LUCY BELLE Aftah Ed leaves me. Yo’s in Atlanta. SAM An’ yo’ stick yere? LUCY BELLE I was ha’f sick--an’ did’n’ have no money. He--he had me so scar’t I was neah crazy. SAM (_in anguish_) Gawd--! LUCY BELLE Ha’f-out-a mah haid, honey--did’n’ know w’at I was doin’-- SAM Took up wid de wust niggah in de worl’--! LUCY BELLE I--I could’n’ help it--’deed I could’n’! SAM Swo’ I nevah touch anathin’ or anabody dat he lay a fingah on. LUCY BELLE Dat’s de reason I ain’ said nuffin’. SAM (_bitterly_) I reckon it is! LUCY BELLE I knowed how yo’ hate him. SAM (_harshly_) Dey don’ come no wuss. LUCY BELLE Treat me like a dog! SAM W’at kin’-a crazy fool is yo’? LUCY BELLE I done tol’ yo’. I was down an’ out--an’ scar’t ter deaf. SAM (_shaking his head_) Took up wid him--! LUCY BELLE I know, I know-- SAM Why did’n’ yo’ kill him? LUCY BELLE Gawd, I wan’ed ter--! SAM Why did’n’ yo’? LUCY BELLE Ev’y day I prays dat yo’ would come back. An’ I thinks ’bout yo’ all de time. Sam-boy, honey-baby, dey ain’ nevah been anabody but yo’--an’ nevah will be! (_Stretching out her arms to him._) W’en yo’ come back it seem too good ter be true. SAM Wish I nevah come back. LUCY BELLE Don’ say dat, Sam--don’--! SAM Whar was yo’ livin’--? LUCY BELLE Carter Street. SAM An’ he come ter yo’ dere? LUCY BELLE Yas. SAM An’ yo’ let’s him stay. LUCY BELLE Had ter--. (_Sam gives a short, savage laugh._) I--I only done w’at oder gals would-a done--ef dey been in mah place. I gits away de fust good chanct I gits. SAM How long yo’ live wid him? LUCY BELLE ’Bout yeah-an’-a-ha’f. (_In tender, appealing tones._) Honey-baby, I loves yo’--an’ I’se loved yo’ all de time--right from de fust. Yo’ knows I is! W’en me an’ yo’ hooks up yere--yo’ say w’at is pas’ is pas’! Don’ yo’ membah--? (_Sam nods._) An’ yo’ say dat yo’ ain’ been no angel--an’ yo’ knows I ain’-- SAM Did’n’ know yo’d been tied up ter anabody like Jeff. LUCY BELLE I done tol’ yo’ why I did’n’ say nuffin’. Oh, Sam-boy, I ain’ nevah come back at yo’ ’bout ole Lizzie Gibbs. I don’ hol’ dat agin yo’--even ef she do blackguard an’ lie on me. I ain’ nevah said nuffin’ ter yo’ ’bout it. Is I? SAM No. LUCY BELLE Den don’ hol’ dis agin me. It all happen fo’ me an’ yo’ hook up fo’ good. It’s pas’ an’ gone. Fo’give me. I ain’ nevah gwine ter keep nuffin’ back agin. Fo’give me, honey-baby--please fo’give me? SAM (_takes her in his arms and kisses her passionately_) Mah lil’ baby budigee! LUCY BELLE Yo’ does fo’give me, don’ yo’? SAM Yas, yas--! LUCY BELLE I knowed yo’ would. SAM Ef yo’ evah has anathin’ ter do wid anoder niggah I’se gwine ter kill yo’! LUCY BELLE No, no, Sam--nevah agin--! Don’ yo’ worry--! SAM (_with passionate fervor_) I loves yo’ bettah den anathin’ in de worl’--! LUCY BELLE (_ecstatically_) Sam-boy budigee! SAM I wants ter go on wukkin’ fo’ yo’-- LUCY BELLE Honey-baby! SAM An’ w’en anathin’ like dis come up-- LUCY BELLE