Right now, I is. CHICK Luce--is yo’ sore at me? LUCY BELLE No--no, indeedy, Chick. CHICK Den w’at’s de mattah? LUCY BELLE Nuffin’--nuffin’ at all. Only I jes’ don’ wan’ ter go nowhars--fo’ a while. CHICK An’ yo’ don’ wan’ me ter show yo’ a good time? (_She shakes her head._) Or he’p yo’ out a lil’--? LUCY BELLE Don’ wan’ nobody ter he’p me out! (_Chick springs over to her side and takes her forcibly in his arms._) LUCY BELLE Chick! Stop! Oh, mah Gawd--! Yo’--! CHICK Yo’ mine--mine--! LUCY BELLE (_struggling frantically to free herself_) Lemme go, Chick--! Chick! Stop--! CHICK Mah lil’ budigee--! Yas, yo’ is! Ain’ yo’ mine! Damn yo’, say yo’s mine! LUCY BELLE Lemme go! Yo’ wan’ me ter yell, “_Po_-lice!” CHICK (_savagely_) Yo’ ain’ gwine ter yell nuffin’! (_His arms tighten about her._) Gimme a kiss! Come on! Yo’ yere me? LUCY BELLE (_turning her head away and protesting between gasps_) Chick! Yo’ killin’ me--! CHICK Kiss me--lovah! Yo’ yere--! Kiss me! LUCY BELLE Oh, Gawd--! Chick, don’--! (_He contrives to implant a prolonged kiss on her lips. At length, with a superhuman effort, she wrenches herself free, and retreats to the opposite side of the table. Chick starts to follow her, whereupon she runs around to the back of the table, where she stands, breathing heavily and weak from the struggle. Chick stands facing her--on the opposite side of the table and with back to the audience--his muscles taut, as though ready to lunge after her._) LUCY BELLE (_stretching out her arms beseechingly_) Don’, Chick--oh, don’--! Don’ come at me like dat! CHICK Luce--listen ter me--! LUCY BELLE Chick--! Please--! Sam--mah own Sam-boy--he’s mah lovah. He’s de onlies’ one--now! CHICK He ain’ nevah comin’ back ter yo’! LUCY BELLE Yas, he is! De minute he git out! Yo’ don’ know Sam like I does. I got ter stick ter him--no matter weder he in jail or not. Gimme a chanct, Chick. Please--! Yo’ mah bes’ frien’--nex’ ter Sam. Gimme a chanct ter keep mah promise ter him! Don’ do nuffin’ dat gwine ter make him come back an’ kill yo’! (_His muscles relax, as though her appeal had moved him somewhat._) Don’--don’ come at me like dat, Chick, ole boy-- (_He gives a little, hollow laugh, reaches in his pocket, brings out a package of Sweet Corporals, puts one in his mouth and lights it. Lucy Belle runs a hand over her hair, which is all dishevelled, then glances down at her waist._) LUCY BELLE Don’ make a wreck ob me. (_She moves hesitatingly to the door, Left, and pauses for a moment when she reaches there. He watches her with a narrow, tense gaze._) LUCY BELLE _’Scuse me a minute._ (_She goes out, Left. Chick leans back against the table and smokes in sullen, contemplative silence. Presently a knock sounds on the door, Back. Chick turns his head and listens. The knock sounds again. He goes nonchalantly to the door and opens it. Aunt Rebecca stands in the doorway._) AUNT REBECCA (_exclaiming_)