I know, I know-- SAM Ef it had been anabody but Jeff-- LUCY BELLE But w’at is pas’ is gwine ter be pas’--! SAM (_repeating_) W’at is pas’ is gwine ter be pas’. An’ I’se gwine on wukkin’ fo’ yo’--an’ tryin’ ter make yo’ happy-- LUCY BELLE (_with a sob_) I knows yo’ is, ole Sam-boy, baby! SAM Yo’s all I got in de worl’. LUCY BELLE Yo’s all I got! SAM By-an’-by we gwine ter git nuff saved ter buy a lil’ place down neah Frederick--mah ole home. LUCY BELLE Yas, yas--jes’ as soon as we kin-- SAM An’ we gwine down dere an’ raise garden truck--an’ chickens--an’ _live right_-- LUCY BELLE Yo’ said somefin’! SAM De chillen’ll have plenty-a room ter play. An’ I kin take a day off now an’ go huntin’. (_Wistfully._) Still got-a lot-a possums down ’roun’ dere. LUCY BELLE Is dey--? SAM Heaps. (_With a sigh._) Yas, indeedy! We gwine down dere--an’ _live right_! (_The footsteps of someone coming rapidly down the alley arrest them. Lucy Belle gives a start. They both listen intently. The door, Back, suddenly bursts open and Jeff Bisbee dashes in. He halts abruptly upon discovering Sam and stares at him--his face distorted with rage. Sam breaks away from Lucy Belle and starts at him--menacingly._) SAM (_at the top of his voice_) Git out-a yere! (_Lucy Belle gives a cry of anguish and fear and draws back, toward Left, cowering._) JEFF (_drawing a knife and snapping open the blade_) Who yo’ talkin’ ter? SAM Ter yo’! LUCY BELLE (_rushes forward, as though to place herself between them_) Jeff--! Fo’ Gawd’s sake! JEFF Thought I’d find yo’ yere! SAM (_thunderously_) Git out--! (_Jeff lunges at Sam. Lucy Belle gives a blood-curdling shriek. The men grapple and sway about the room, grunting and cursing._) LUCY BELLE Oh, mah Gawd! _Po_-lice! _Po_-lice! Murder! (_Sam has a firm grip on Jeff’s right arm. After some desperate maneuvering, Jeff contrives to swing it down in an attempt to stab Sam in the side. Sam diverts the thrust and the blade plunges into Jeff’s side. Jeff gives a groan, his body becomes limp, his knees sag, the muscles of his hand relax and the knife falls to the floor. Sam releases him and he staggers toward the table, Center. He makes a grab for it, misses it, and falls to the floor. He raises himself on one elbow, puts his free hand to his side, and lies there groaning and rolling his eyes. Sam and Lucy Belle stand gazing down at him--terror-stricken._) LUCY BELLE (_in wild, hysterical tones_) Sam--run! Git out--git out fo’ yo’ life! (_At this juncture a policeman dashes in, Back. He pauses near the door for a second, sees Jeff lying on the floor, turns, discovers Sam, springs over and grabs him._) CURTAIN ACT II _The same as Act I--one year later. Early afternoon._