(_He goes out, Left. She stands watching him. In a moment he re-enters._) POLICEMAN (_studying her with an ugly, menacing look_) I’ve a good mind to lock you up anyway. LUCY BELLE (_with a beseeching wail_) Oh--, oh, please sir,--I ain’ done nuffin’! POLICEMAN (_as he moves toward the door, Back_) Yuh better watch your step. I ain’t goin’ to stand for no skylarkin’ around this neighborhood. (_He goes out, Back, and closes the door after him. Lucy Belle turns and goes off hurriedly, Left. She re-enters immediately carrying the baby in her arms and starts toward the door, Back. A second later Fanny--in her nightgown--runs in, Left._) FANNY Mamma! LUCY BELLE Hush, chile! FANNY Whar yo’ gwine? LUCY BELLE Gwine ter take de baby ovah ter yo’ Aun’ Becky’s. Git right back ter bed. Go ’long! (_Fanny goes out, Left, closing the door after her. Lucy Belle starts again toward the door, Back. Lizzie steps abruptly out from the closet._) LIZZIE (_with a sardonic leer_) So dat’s yo’ baby, is it? LUCY BELLE (_halting with a startled cry_) Oh! Oh, mah Gawd! LIZZIE I knowed I’d git yo’! Pretendin’ ter be such a lil’ angel! Ha! Ha! Been up ter all kin’-a tricks, ain’ yo’? LUCY BELLE Git out-a yere! LIZZIE (_slouching slowly toward the door, Back_) I got yo’ numbah, now--yo’ lil’ rat! Ha! Ha! LUCY BELLE W’at in hell d’yo’ mean? It ain’ mah chile! LIZZIE Ha! Ha! Ha! Ain’ yo’ chile! Ain’ yo’ chile! Yo’s a good lil’ liah, ain’ yo’? LUCY BELLE (_passionately defiant_) No--it ain’--yo’ blackguardin’ hussy! LIZZIE Ha! Ha! It sartainly do look like Chick--jes’ ’zactly. Wait till I tells Sam. He one-a dem kin’ dat ain’ so partic’lar. He don’ min’ accidents now an’ den. Ha! Ha! (_She goes out, Back._) (_Lucy Belle stands staring tragically to the front. Suddenly a look of desperation comes into her face and she dashes out, Back. Presently Aunt Rebecca enters, Back, and looks inquiringly about._) AUNT REBECCA (_calling_) Lucy Belle! Oh, Lucy Belle! (_Fanny runs in, Left._) FANNY Mamma gwine ovah ter yo’ house wid de baby. AUNT REBECCA (_nonplussed_) Mah house! FANNY Dat w’at she say. AUNT REBECCA ’Deed, chile, yo’ all mus’ been dreamin’. FANNY (_with a whimper_) Den--den I don’ know whar she is. AUNT REBECCA Yo’ been dreamin’. Go ’long back ter bed. (_Fanny reluctantly leaves, Left. Aunt Rebecca sits down in a chair and chants to herself._) AUNT REBECCA Devil gwine ter git yo’! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Devil gwine ter git yo’! Um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a--um--a! Devil gwine ter git yo’! (_Suddenly Slim rushes in, Back, breathing heavily and wild-eyed._) SLIM A-aun’ Becky! AUNT REBECCA Yas! Yas! SLIM Lucy Belle drown de baby! AUNT REBECCA (_jumping up with a shriek_) Oh! Oh, mah Gawd! Oh, oh! SLIM (_jerkily_)