(_Sam nods. She goes out, Left. Sam moves slowly and thoughtfully about the room. Presently a loud knock sounds on the door, Back. As he nears it, it opens and Lizzie Gibbs rushes in._) LIZZIE (_halting abruptly_) Sam! SAM W’at in hell is yo’ doin’ yere? LIZZIE Well--Sam! So--so yo’s out again! Mah soul, but I’se damn glad ter see yo! SAM W’at d’yo’ wan’? D’yo’ yere me? LIZZIE (_ingratiatingly_) Sam, kid--come on wid me--fo’ a good time! Le’s cel’brate! SAM Ef yo’ keep foolin’ ’roun’ me, yo’s gwine ter git hurt. LIZZIE Sam--Sam, ole boy--now hones’, w’at is I evah done ter make yo’ treat me like yo’ has? SAM Go ’long! Git out-a yere! LIZZIE (_with a show of anger_) Yo’s a damn fool fo’ stickin’ ter dis gal. She don’ mean yo’ no good. SAM (_menacingly_) Shet up! LIZZIE She don’ care nuffin’ ’bout yo’! SAM (_stepping toward her_) Wan’ me ter bus’ yo’ in de mouf? LIZZIE (_ingratiatingly again_) Sam--I’se gwine ter git a good job uptown--Monday. I’ll keep yo’ dis wintah, ole kiddo. Yo’ won’ haf ter do no wuk. Should think yo’ wan’ ter take it easy--fo’ a while--now yo’ out-a jail. Don’ yo’? I’ll show yo’ a good time, son. Yo’ kin lay ’roun’ an’ take it easy--an’ git drunk w’en yo’-a min’ ter-- SAM Git out-a yere! LIZZIE Sam, I don’ wan’ ter see nobody like yo’ git tied up agin wid a wench like her. Onct was ’nuff--but-- SAM Git out-a yere--d’yo’ yere me? Beat it! LIZZIE (_angrily_) Yo’s a great big stiff ter let a gal like her take yo’ in. (_The door, Left, opens slightly and Lucy Belle can be seen listening._) SAM (_savagely_) Shet up! LIZZIE Why, she been runnin’ ’roun’ wid Chick Avery--evah since yo’ lef. Ha! Ha! SAM Dat’s a lie! LIZZIE So he’p me Gawd, dat’s de truf--an’ I kin prove it! SAM (_menacingly_) It’s a lie! LIZZIE She bleed yo’ ter deaf an’ den tuhn yo’ loose. I’se tellin’ yo’! SAM (_hitting her on the jaw_) Shet up! Yo’ blackguardin’ hussy! LIZZIE (_shrieking_) Murder! Murder! _Po_-lice! _Po_-lice! Murder! (_Sam darts out the door, Back. Lucy Belle closes the door, Left. Hurried footsteps are heard off stage, Back. Lizzie glances out of the window, Left Back, gives a little gasp, looks wildly about for a place to hide, runs to the closet door, opens it, darts in and pulls it shut after her. A policeman enters, Back._) POLICEMAN (_calling out_) What’s the trouble here? (_He stands looking about the room for a moment or two, then advances toward the door, Left. It suddenly opens and Lucy Belle enters._) POLICEMAN (_gruffly_) What’s the matter? LUCY BELLE Nuffin’--nuffin’ at all, sir. POLICEMAN There was so! (_Striding over to her._) Who was that yellin’? LUCY BELLE I--I don’ know, sir. It was’n’ yere. POLICEMAN Stop your lyin’. I know better! LUCY BELLE No, no! Hones’ ter Gawd! POLICEMAN Say--where d’yuh get that stuff? Don’t yuh think I got ears? (_Goes to the door, Left._) Who’s in here? LUCY BELLE Jes’ mah chillen.