(_He goes out, Left, closely followed by Lucy Belle. The door stands open and their voices can be heard._) LUCY BELLE (_off stage, Left_) See, Sam--ain’ nobody but Fanny an’ Israel. Don’ wake ’em up! Jes’ mah clothes, Sam-boy! Aw, yo’ believes me--don’ yo’? Yo’ don’ believe an’ ole wench like her! SAM (_savagely_) Chick Avery been hangin’ ’roun’ yere? LUCY BELLE No, no! He ain’ even in town no mo’. It’s all a dirty lie! Lizzie allas blackguardin’ me--don’ yo’ know she is--evah since yo’ an’ me met up! She say anathin’--anathin’ at all ter git back at me. (_They re-enter, Left._) SAM (_grabbing her by the shoulder and swinging her around full-face to him_) Yo’ is seen Chick Avery! LUCY BELLE No--no--I ain’--sweah ter Gawd I ain’! Aw, Sam, yo’ believes yo’ honey-baby, don’ yo’? (_A tense pause. He stares down at her as though trying to read the truth in her eyes._) SAM (_at length_) Ef she keep on blackguardin’ yo’, I’se gwine ter kill her! LUCY BELLE Yo’ ain’ gwine ter boder ’bout her--or nobody, Sam-boy! We gwine ter git ’way from all dem ole niggahs like her--quick as we kin! Ain’ we, honey-baby? (_Fondly._) Bes’ ole buddy in de worl’! I wan’s yo’, Sam--jes’ yo’--nuffin’ else. SAM (_muttering_) I’ll clean up fo’ dat gal! LUCY BELLE Yo’ loves me, don’ yo’? SAM (_impulsively taking her in his arms and clasping her tightly to him_) Yo’s all I got in de worl’! Ef yo’ fools me, I’ll tuhn bad fo’ life. LUCY BELLE Sam, mah budigee baby, mah ole Sam-boy baby! Ain’ nuffin’ on Gawd’s earf I would’n’ do fo’ yo’! (_Earnestly, as she stares up into his face._) Yo’ an’ me’s gwine ter Baltimo’ right ’way quick--ain’ we? (_Sam nods_) SAM (_fondly_) Honey-baby! Honey-baby! (_Aunt Rebecca rushes in excitedly, Back._) AUNT REBECCA Lucy Belle! Mah Gawd! Lucy Belle! Is yo’ crazy? Dey fish him out--de baby! Oh, mah Gawd! (_Lucy Belle gives a stifled cry and breaks away from Sam._) SAM Baby! W’at d’yo’ mean? (_A tense silence of several seconds. At length Sam divines her meaning. Aunt Rebecca staggers back--under the stress of the sudden realization of what the consequences of her revelation are likely to be. Lucy Belle stands at one side, moaning softly. Sam rushes at Aunt Rebecca, hits her and knocks her out through the door, Back. She screams. He rushes over, closes the door and locks it._) SAM (_rushing at Lucy Belle_) Damn yo’ black heart ter hell! (_She gives an unearthly shriek._) Yo’ will double-cross me! Dis is de way yo’ pays me fo’ all I done fo’ yo’! LUCY BELLE (_dropping to her knees_) Sam--Sam--boy--listen! Lemme tell yo’! Oh, Gawd! It ain’-- SAM (_grabbing her_) I’ll show yo’ how ter play dat kin’-a game! LUCY BELLE (_frantically_) Sam! Sam! SAM I’ll fix yo’!